China sympathises with Covid-hit India, gets reminded of unfinished work at the border

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday asked his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to complete the unfinished disengagement process at the multiple locations in eastern Ladakh, which started in February this year. 

Since May last year, India and China have been engaged in a border standoff in the Ladakh region. 

The call, which was arranged at the request of the Chinese side to convey their sympathy and solidarity with India in battling the Covid pandemic, the two ministers discussed the outstanding issues related to disengagement from all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. 

During their conversation, Jaishankar conveyed that "while the process of disengagement had commenced earlier this year, it remained unfinished," the ministry of external affairs said. 

He emphasized that this process needed to be completed at the earliest. 

"Full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would enable progress in the bilateral relationship. The two ministers agreed to continue further dialogue at the official level on this matter," it said.

Jaishankar thanked him for his sentiments and apprised him of the ongoing efforts to meet the challenges posed by the second wave of the pandemic in the country.

He said that the government was fully determined to do whatever was necessary to overcome this challenge. 

Further, Jaishankar highlighted that Indian entities were already in the process of commercially procuring required products and raw materials from suppliers in China. 

He also said that this process would be facilitated if various transport corridors and cargo flights remained open and the necessary logistics support ensured expeditiously. 

The minister emphasized that serious challenges such as the pandemic, which had affected all countries, required serious international cooperation.

Wang Yi described the Covid-19 as a common enemy of mankind and agreed that there was a need for coordination on a concerted response. 

He said that China supported the efforts of the Indian government and would ensure that all the required materials flow to Indian entities without any delay. 

"Chinese companies would be encouraged and supported to deliver requisite materials. Airports, customs and airlines would also be instructed to smoothly facilitate movement of goods," it added. 

Chartered flights from India would be welcome and specific problems raised by the Indian side would be sorted out quickly, it said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered any other appropriate assistance from the Chinese government. 

In the evening, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered support in battling the Covid pandemic. 

This was the first communication between the two heads since the pandemic outbreak and border standoff in eastern Ladakh last year.

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