A bilateral meeting between China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to take place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ conclave to be held in Goa on 4-5 May. Diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian that during the meeting with Jaishankar, the Chinese foreign minister may give a concrete indication if the Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the SCO Summit to be held in New Delhi on 3-4 July. “The two sides will then be exploring the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President,” sources added.
The SCO FMs’ meeting in Goa assumes significance in the light of the fact that the diplomatic exercise will be setting the agenda and stage for the SCO leadership summit in July. If Xi does not come to New Delhi to attend the Summit physically, then he will be joining the interactions via a video link, sources said. “Jaishankar will be discussing the issues related to Line of Actual Control (LAC) during bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart in Panjim,” sources said, adding, “EAM is going to reiterate what Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart last week during an SCO conclave.” “The Chinese foreign minister will be categorically told that without resolving the LAC issues, there cannot be any normalcy in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing,” said diplomats. The SCO FMs’ meeting will give final touches to the agenda for the upcoming Summit of the SCO. “Counter-terror, Afghan stability, inclusive connectivity initiatives including Chabahar Port and INSTC besides India’s wide-ranging outreach to Eurasia will be included in the agenda,” sources said, adding, “Jaishankar will use the conclave to signal a strong message to China over its expansionist agenda.”
Meanwhile, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that at the meeting Qin Gang will exchange views with other SCO member states’ foreign ministers on the international and regional situation. “At the meeting, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will exchange views with other SCO member states’ foreign ministers on the international and regional situation and SCO cooperation in various fields, among other topics, to make full preparation for this year’s SCO summit,” the Chinese spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Qin Gang will also visit Myanmar to deepen practical cooperation in various fields including economy and livelihood. Qin Gang had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi and conveyed that the current state of the bilateral relationship was “abnormal” in the context of challenges, especially that of peace and tranquillity in the border areas. India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks for disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh following the actions of the Chinese Army which led to a standoff in May 2020. Qin Gang was appointed China’s new Foreign Minister in December last year.