Jaishankar, Chinese envoy hold talks on bilateral ties, common interest in stabilisation & progress

Last week, China had expressed “strong concern” over the visit of a high-level US Congress delegation to Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong during a meeting, in New Delhi. PTI

Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong called upon External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday, exchanging views on bilateral ties that have been strained for four years in the wake of the LAC transgressions and Galwan clashes in 2020.

“Received Ambassador of China Xu Feihong this evening. Discussed our bilateral relationship and our common interest in its stabilisation and progress,” Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting. Besides discussing India-China relations, Feihong said that discussions were also held on other issues of common interest while adding that the aim is to push forward the development of bilateral relations in the right direction. Feihong was sent to India last month, after 18 months of China not having an Ambassador in India.

“Honoured to call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today,” said Feihong Tuesday. “We exchanged views on China-India relations and other issues of common interest…”

Last week, China had expressed “strong concern” over the visit of a high-level US Congress delegation to Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama. A bipartisan US Congressional delegation, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaulis, had visited India to strengthen bilateral ties and meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.

However, India reiterated its stance on His Holiness’ position, emphasising his “revered” status and the respect accorded to him by the Indian people.

Earlier this month, after PM Modi won his third successive term, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had protested the exchange of messages between Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and Modi after the poll results.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning had said India “has diplomatic relations with China. China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China.”

Story continues below this ad

With an estimated 50,000-60,000 troops posted on either side of the India-China border in eastern Ladakh for almost four years now, India has advocated finding a fair and reasonable outcome to the issue, which doesn’t change the status quo at the LAC.

Speaking at the Express Adda in March, Jaishankar had said the situation is “very tense and dangerous” and that it’s in the common interest of both countries to not have “that many forces on the Line of Actual Control (LAC)”.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram