NEW DELHI, Feb 10: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held the India-China Strategic Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu here today, during which both sides underscored the importance of peace and tranquility in the border areas for overall progress in bilateral relations.
Meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Sherpa Meeting, the two sides exchanged views on a wide gamut of issues covering bilateral, regional and international affairs. Bilateral discussions primarily focussed on the recent progress made in stabilising and rebuilding bilateral ties and ways to take bilateral engagement forward.
They reiterated their commitment to implement the guidance provided by their leaders including on the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to approach issues and concerns related to bilateral trade, a statement said.
Foreign Secretary Misri noted the successful resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and hoped for the continued expansion of the scale of the Yatra.
Both sides recognised the need for an early conclusion of an updated Air Services Agreement. The two sides agreed to continue to take practical steps for visa facilitation and promote people-to-people contacts.
Both sides discussed multilateral cooperation, including in the context of India’s BRICS Chairship this year.
The Chinese side expressed its support for a successful BRICS Summit in India.
The Chinese side also conveyed that China understands and respects India’s aspirations for UNSC membership.
The Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong, in a post on his X handle, noted that the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the First BRICS Sherpa Meeting in New Delhi.
“Ma Zhaoxu noted that President Xi Jinping has put forward the important concept of the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation and the five cooperation layouts of building a BRICS committed to peace, innovation, green development, justice and closer people-to-people exchanges. These have charted the course for the future development of the BRICS mechanism.
“China is ready to work with India, the BRICS chair for the year, and BRICS members as well as partner countries to follow the correct course of BRICS cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, improve the working mechanism, strengthen multilateral coordination, uphold international fairness and justice, and bring greater development to BRICS cooperation.
“At the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the priorities of BRICS cooperation and the arrangement of major events for the year, and started the preparation for the 18th BRICS Summit,” he posted.
However, the Chinese side has not posted anything so far about the India-China Strategic Dialogue.
(UNI)
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