India and China see chance to reset ties , Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that India-China relations are facing an “important opportunity” at the 24th meeting between the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.
• Modi emphasized the need for a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question" during his meeting with Wang.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the need to move forward with the withdrawal of troops from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Detailed Insights:

• The 2020 Galwan clashes had a negative impact on India-China relations, leading to recent setbacks that did not benefit either country.
• Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi held an important meeting in Kazan in October of last year, which provided direction for the development of bilateral relations and the settlement of the boundary question.
• Ajit Doval, the Indian Special Representative, noted an "upward trend" in India-China ties in recent months and expressed hope for successful SR-level talks.
• S. Jaishankar raised the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan during his meeting with Wang, emphasizing that countering terrorism was an original objective of the SCO.
• Wang assured Jaishankar that China will address India’s needs for fertilizers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines.
• India's relations with the United States are facing trade-related uncertainties, leading to increased conversation among Russia, India, and China.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Line of Actual Control (LAC): The de facto border between India and China.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• Cross-border terrorism: Terrorist activities that originate in or transit through one country but impact another.