China Proposes Series of Events, Visits To Revive Bilateral Talks With India

File photo of PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

(Photo: PTI)

Almost two years after the military standoff between China and India along Ladakh's Line of Actual Control (LAC), Beijing has expressed its intention to revive bilateral talks with the latter and has reached out to New Delhi for the same, reported The Indian Express.

Later this year, Beijing plans to hold BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit in China.

A series of other events have also been proposed by Beijing to kickstart the talks. The dialogue is believed to begin with high-level visits from both countries.

Background

Beijing has already proposed that Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi would visit India later this month. It will be the first visit by a Chinese leader ever since clashes erupted between India and China in the Pangong lake area of eastern Ladakh in May 2020.

The visit comes at a time when border talks are ongoing between India and China regarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC). No major breakthrough was achieved during the 15th corps commander-level talks between the two countries that took place on 11 March this year.

Following Wang Yi's visit, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would make a reciprocal visit to China. Besides this, a series of high-level visits will be made by China's key officials and senior Politburo members.

The proposals from China include an 'India China Civilization Dialogue', which will take place in both nations, India-China Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum, and an India China Film Forum.

However, China's ultimate aim is to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the BRICS summit, which would be attended by Russian President Vladamir Putin as well. China is also expected to hold a (Russia-India-China) trilateral on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and PM Modi last had a face-to-face meeting during the BRICS summit in November 2019. Before that, in October 2019, Xi had visited India's Mahabalipuram for an informal summit.

(With inputs from The Indian Express.)