‘Border peace pre-requisite for normal ties,’ Jaishankar tells China’s Wang Yi at Asean meet

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that peace and tranquillity along the India-China border remains the "pre-requisite" for normal bilateral ties, as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asean-related meetings in Manila, the Philippines.

The meeting came as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise ties following the understanding reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2024.

The discussions also took place against the backdrop of gradual progress in restoring bilateral engagement, including the resumption of direct flights, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border trade.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to review the current state of bilateral relations as well as exchange views on important regional and global developments.

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He said India remains committed to building a stable and cooperative relationship with China based on "mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity."

Border peace remains central to ties

Emphasising India's long-held position, Jaishankar said maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall relationship between the two countries.

"Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties," he said, adding that both sides have been working since October 2024 to ensure stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He said these efforts would require continued attention from both governments and stressed that existing border management mechanisms should receive "full support and strong encouragement."

Jaishankar also recalled the understanding reached by the two countries' leaders that differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes. As two large neighbouring nations with their own interests, he said it was the responsibility of diplomacy to manage differences constructively.

Progress in normalisation, but concerns remain

The external affairs minister welcomed the steps taken by both countries over the past several months to restore normal engagement.

He cited the resumption of direct flights, the updated visa regime, the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the reopening of border trade as positive developments in bilateral relations.

At the same time, Jaishankar underlined that several important issues still require attention. These include improving market access for Indian businesses, addressing the trade imbalance and ensuring greater predictability in supply chains.

He also called for greater facilitation of official exchanges as well as people-to-people contacts. In addition, he said both countries should agree on holding meetings under various bilateral mechanisms and dialogue platforms in line with their mutual priorities.

India thanks China for Brics support

Jaishankar also referred to India's chairship of Brics this year and thanked China for supporting various activities and initiatives undertaken during India's presidency of the grouping.

Noting that the international situation remains "extremely complicated", he said the bilateral meeting also offered an opportunity to exchange views on pressing regional and global developments.

The latest meeting follows a similar discussion between the two foreign ministers in July 2025, when Jaishankar had also linked the broader bilateral relationship with stability along the border.

During that meeting, he highlighted the positive impact of peace and tranquillity on the smooth development of India-China ties and supported continued efforts towards de-escalation and effective border management.

Jaishankar had also raised concerns over cooperation on trans-border rivers, including the resumption of hydrological data sharing by China, besides flagging restrictive trade measures and obstacles affecting economic cooperation.