NEW DELHI: Amid the Ladakh border standoff, joint secretary (East Asia) in the MEA Naveen Srivastava on Friday held a meeting with Wu Jianghao, director general in Chinese ministry of foreign affairs during which both the sides agreed to handle their “differences” through peaceful discussions
The meeting, held through video conference, also reviewed the state of bilateral relations, including the current developments between India and China, according to the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
“In this context they recalled the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, that peaceful, stable and balanced relations between India and China will be a positive factor for stability in the current global situation,” the statement said.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to resolve differences in accordance with guidance provided by leadership of two countries, in a reference to decisions taken at the two informal summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Both sides agreed that the differences should be handled through “peaceful discussion” bearing in mind the importance of respecting each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations and not allow them to become disputes.
The MEA further said that the two sides also exchanged views on the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and cooperation of the two countries in various multilateral forums.
The talks come in the backdrop of India and China being locked in a bitter military standoff in at least four areas in eastern Ladakh for a month.