India, China set up new hotline, agree de-escalation must for peace

Stating that the boundary question may take time to resolve, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the disturbance of peace and tranquillity including violence will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship between India and China.

India China agree de-escalation must for peace, set up new hotline

Anish Kumar

New Delhi, First Published Feb 26, 2021, 4:40 PM IST | Last Updated Feb 26, 2021, 4:40 PM IST

In the backdrop of border crisis along the Line of Actual Control, India and China have agreed for establishing a hotline which would be in addition to the existing military mechanism.

Jaishankar had a phone call with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday lasted for over an hour, where the two ministers discussed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh and also issues pertaining to overall India-China relations.

"The two ministers agreed to remain in touch and establish a hotline," the External Affairs Ministry said.

During their conversation, Jaishankar referred to the meeting with him in September 2020 in Moscow where the Indian side had expressed its concern on provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo.

He noted that the bilateral relations have been impacted severely over the last year.

Talking about the completion of disengagement in Pangong Tso areas, the minister emphasized that both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC.

"He said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity," it said.

On his part, Wang Yi expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far.

"It was an important step forward for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas," he said.

He spoke about the need to improve management and control in the border areas.

Talking about the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas, Jaishankar said, "A prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was, therefore, necessary that the two sides should work towards the early resolution of the remaining issues. It was necessary to disengage at all friction points in order to contemplate the de-escalation of forces in this sector. That alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquillity and provide conditions for the progress of our bilateral relationship."

The Chinese foreign minister also noted that the Indian side had proposed 'three mutuals' (mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests) as the approach to the relationship.

The Chinese foreign ministry, in a separate statement, said both sides agreed to set up a communication hotline to exchange opinions in a timely manner.

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