Asserting that a durable partnership cannot be a one-way track and that there must be reciprocal respect, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that China has ignored the boundary agreements with India, casting a shadow on the bilateral relations.
Mr. Jaishankar made the comments during his meeting with the Indian community here on Saturday. He is now on the first phase of a six-day trip to South America to strengthen overall bilateral relations with the area.
In response to a query about relations between China and India, Mr. Jaishankar stated that the two countries had agreements that date back to the 1990s that forbid sending soldiers to the border region.
“That has been overlooked by them (Chinese). You are aware of the recent events in the Galwan Valley. That issue still exists, and it is having an impact “added Mr. Jaishankar.
In Eastern Ladakh, Chinese and Indian forces are locked in a protracted confrontation. So far, 16 rounds of Corps Commander-level negotiations have taken place between the two parties to end the impasse that began on May 5, 2020, after a bloody altercation in the Pangong lake region.
According to Mr. Jaishankar, who served as the Indian ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013, a partnership cannot be a one-way path and must be supported by mutual respect.
“Everyone wants to get along with their neighbour because they are our neighbours. But everyone wants to coexist peacefully with their neighbour. Both you and I must respect one another “added Mr. Jaishankar.
“From our perspective, it has been extremely evident that mutual respect is a need if you want to develop a partnership. Each person will have different interests, therefore we must be mindful of the other party’s worries,” he added.
A partnership that endures cannot be one-sided. It is no secret that “we are going through a very difficult phase,” he continued, adding that “we need that mutual respect and mutual sensitivity.”
After what Beijing did at the border, Mr. Jaishankar stated last week in Bangkok that the relationship between India and China is going through a “very challenging phase.” He also emphasised that the Asian Century will not occur if the two neighbours are unable to work together.
In response to a question from the audience in Bangkok, he added, “We very much hope that enlightenment dawns on the Chinese side.
It is Mr. Jaishankar’s first trip to South America as the External Affairs Minister, and he will also stop in Paraguay and Argentina in addition to Brazil.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the purpose of the trip is to investigate potential new areas of collaboration in the post-pandemic period.
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