Jaishankar stresses peace along LAC during talks with China's Wang Yi

Jakarta, July 15: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday discussed "outstanding issues" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Wang Yi, director of the office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, along the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Jakarta.

 

 

Jaishankar said he discussed outstanding issues related to peace and tranquillity along LAC.

 

Addressing EAS meeting earlier, Jaishankar in an indirect message to China emphasised that the body must be committed to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said India firmly supported the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and its implementation through EAS.

 

 

"There is great synergy between the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative proposed by India and AOIP. Quad will always complement Asean and Asean-led mechanisms. AOIP contributes to the vision of the Quad," Jaishankar said. "India affirms Asean centrality in the Indo-Pacific and advocates the strengthening of EAS." The statement can be seen as an attempt to assuage Asean misgivings over Quad, a grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

 

Wang Yi, on the other hand, urged actions to stabilize relations between China and India. "Such a relationship is an important consensus between leaders of the two countries", Wang told Jaishankar.

 

China and India need to work in the same direction to find a solution to border issues acceptable to both sides, Wang noted. He also expressed China's concerns about India's recent restrictions against Chinese companies and underscored a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.

 

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting on border issues on an early date and reached a principled consensus on launching the process of BRICS membership expansion.