“It’s not just bleeding…”: Eam Jaishankar says India, China tries to rebuild its bond Galwan Clash | Indian News
New Delhi: Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday that India and China are trying to rebuild the relationship damaged by the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict because it is a tense relationship. In an interactive conference hosted by think tank-leading Asian society, Jaishankar said there may be differences between India and China for the foreseeable future, but they should not be a dispute.
Speaking about the Galwan Valley conflict, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said what happened in 2020 was “actually very painful for this relationship.”
“This is not only a bloodshed, but also a disregard for written agreements … related to the terms agreed to,” he said at a meeting chaired by the Asian Association President and CEO Wang Wang and former Foreign Minister Kyung-wha Kang.
Jaishankar further added: “We are still dealing with some of this, and that’s not to say the problem has completely disappeared.”
He said India-China relations have improved since October last year. “We’re looking at all aspects of it. I’ve met (China) a few times, so so are my other senior colleagues.”
He added: “We are trying step by step to see if we can rebuild, revoke some of the damage caused by these actions in 2020, and we can rebuild this relationship. We really, sincerely, think it’s in our common interest.”
In October, India and China laid a disengagement for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh.
A few days after the agreement was completed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Kazan and made many decisions to improve ties.
Jaishankar said the difference between India and China should not be a dispute.
He said India and China may have differences in the foreseeable future, but they should not be a dispute.
“We do compete on many issues. But because we compete, that doesn’t mean there should be a conflict between us. We are very realistic about it.”
He said there are some solutions to the problem.
Jaishankar said the tensions between the two countries did not support the interests of both sides.
“How we benefit from building tensions with a large number of troops in a very hostile environment and in all the collateral damage caused to this relationship,” he said.
He added: “Obviously, if peace and tranquility in the border areas are disturbed, the rest of the relationship will not continue.”
