India and China Focus on Peaceful Border Relations

Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to talk about keeping peace at their border. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that both leaders agreed that when issues arise, they should be handled properly to avoid any disturbance in the border areas.

India and China have experienced serious tensions since 2020 due to a military standoff in the Ladakh region. However, after negotiations, they reached agreements on patrolling in two sensitive areas: Demchok and Depsang. Following this, Modi and Xi met during the Brics Summit in Kazan, Russia. Jaishankar noted that Modi welcomed the plans to fully disengage and resolve problems from the 2020 border situation.

During their conversations, they emphasized the need to use dialogue and meetings at different levels to improve their relationship. Jaishankar also shared that he met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, focusing on the future of India-China relations. They agreed to hold upcoming meetings between special representatives regarding the border issue, as well as restoring the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, sharing data on rivers crossing borders, and improving flights and media exchanges between the countries.

Jaishankar added that the Indian government keeps Parliament informed about significant progress and regularly addresses any border issues with China through established meetings and diplomatic channels. China’s Foreign Ministry recently stated that they are working closely with India to implement resolutions regarding border issues.

In a separate matter, Jaishankar addressed violence against minority communities in Bangladesh. He mentioned incidents involving Hindus and attacks on religious places during the recent Durga Puja festival. The Indian government has expressed concern about these attacks, particularly a serious attack on a puja mandap in Dhaka. The Bangladeshi government has increased security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations during this festive time. Jaishankar highlighted that the responsibility for protecting all citizens, including minorities, belongs to the Bangladeshi government.