The bilateral meeting between the two leaders signals a renewed commitment to improving and stabilizing India-China relations, amid renewed global friction over trade policies of the US.
- Outstanding issues in India-China bilateral ties include unresolved border disputes, trade imbalances, China – Pakistan nexus, strategic encirclement under ‘String of Pearls’ by China in the Indian Ocean Region, etc.
Key Outcomes of the Meet
- Partnership and stability: They reaffirmed that India and China are development partners, not rivals, emphasizing that differences should not escalate into disputes.
- A stable relationship, based on mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity, was deemed crucial for the growth of both nations and for a multipolar world and Asia.
- Border peace and resolution: Committed to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, guided by their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of their peoples.
- Strengthening P2P ties: Recognized the need to enhance P2P connections through direct flights and visa facilitation, building upon the existing resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and tourist visas.
- Economic and trade relations: Emphasized on the need for a political and strategic approach to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and reduce the trade deficit.
Conclusion
The emphasis on partnership over rivalry, the satisfaction with border de-escalation, the commitment to a boundary resolution, and the mutual support for multilateral platforms like SCO and BRICS, all point to a concerted strategy to recalibrate and strengthen India-China relations.
