S Jaishankar meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on sidelines of G20 Meeting
New Delhi, Feb 21: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg. The discussion, coming at a time of global geopolitical turbulence, highlights the importance of sustained dialogue and cooperation between the two Asian powers.
“I am glad that we could meet today on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg. Such gatherings have provided an opportunity for our interaction even when our ties were going through a difficult phase,” Jaishankar remarked, setting a pragmatic tone for the conversation.
The two leaders addressed key issues in their bilateral relationship, including peace and stability in border areas. Jaishankar highlighted the recent diplomatic engagements between the two nations, stating, “Since our last meeting in Rio during the G20 Summit in November 2024, there have been some notable developments. Our NSA and Foreign Secretary have visited China, and there have been discussions about various aspects of our relationship.”
Beyond bilateral matters, Jaishankar acknowledged China’s role in global governance structures, emphasizing the shared responsibility of both nations in maintaining the effectiveness of the G20. “We should also recognize that in a polarized global situation, our two countries have worked hard to preserve and protect the G20 as an institution. This in itself testifies to the importance of international cooperation.”
Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The two ministers reviewed developments in the bilateral relationship since their last meeting in November, specifically the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas.”
The two ministers also deliberated on multilateral engagements, including the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Jaiswal added.
India and China had earlier agreed to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended in 2020 amid the standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The suspension also saw a halt in direct flight services between the two nations. The two sides are now working towards restoring air connectivity to pre-2020 levels.
