Benaulim, Goa: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday raised the border standoff issue with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang while upholding a “fair multipolar system of interstate relations” with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Both the meetings were held separately on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting to be held in Benaulim, Goa, on Friday.
During his detailed discussion with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Jaishankar said, “Focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.”
Jaishankar and Qin also discussed the upcoming G20 and BRICS meetings. Both ministers held a bilateral meeting in March as well when Qin was here for the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting and India had told him then that the situation at the border was “abnormal”.
This comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Chinese Foreign Minister Li Shangfu that China had violated all border protocols and that has eroded the entire bilateral relationship.
They will be face to face again on Friday for the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting when a broader consensus will be arrived at by the ministers.
At the moment, both sides have positioned a massive amount of troops and artillery at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The talks for a process of disengagement and de-escalation have also slowed down in the past year.
‘Fair Multipolar System Of Interstate Relations’
Prior to his talks with Qin, Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and both sides agreed to follow a “fair multipolar system of interstate relations” indirectly hinting at the western economic sanctions in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Appreciated Russia’s support for India’s SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS,” Jaishankar said in a tweet after the meeting.
“A trust-based exchange of views on the main issues of bilateral relations, including the schedule of upcoming contacts, as well as topical issues on the global and regional agenda took place. The ministers praised the dynamics of cooperation in key areas of the special and privileged strategic partnership between our countries,” said a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The statement also said, “The intention to further strengthen coordination to develop common approaches within the framework of interaction at the most important international platforms, including the SCO, BRICS, the UN and the G20 was confirmed.”
“The sides agreed to continue following the course of building a fair multipolar system of interstate relations,” it added.