(a) whether the Foreign Secretary visited China for India-China strategic dialogue;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the main issues discussed at the meeting and the outcome thereof;
(d) whether any MoU on Indo-China cooperation has been signed; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with other steps taken by the Government to resolve the border dispute and boost relations with China?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (c) Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar held the first restructured India-China Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Mr. Zhang Yesui, Executive Vice Minister in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 February 2017 in Beijing. The Strategic Dialogue was preceded by senior official level dialogues between India and China covering issues of Afghanistan, multilateral diplomacy including counter-terrorism, nuclear issues as well as bilateral relations. During his visit, Foreign Secretary also called on State Councillor Mr. Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi. During these meetings, the two sides held in-depth discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.
(d) & (e) No MoU on India-China cooperation was signed during the visit.
Both sides attach importance to furthering bilateral relations and consolidating the Closer Developmental Partnership, which was established during the visit of Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping to India in September 2014. During the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to China in May 2015, further steps were taken to strengthen the Closer Developmental Partnership. Both sides have agreed to maintain high level exchanges including at the leadership level. During 2016, Prime Minister Modi met with President Xi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tashkent in June, the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou in September, and the BRICS Summit, which India hosted in Goa in October 2016. The two countries have also cooperated in multilateral frameworks like G-20 and BRICS. China has supported India’s entry into SCO, which would provide another multilateral platform for bilateral engagement. The two sides have enhanced cooperation in border areas by establishment of more border personnel meting points and conducting joint military exercises. New dialogue mechanisms in the area of counter-terrorism, including for exchange of information have been initiated. Important steps, including for expanding economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, have been taken to develop India-China bilateral relations in diverse areas.
The two sides agree that peace and tranquility on the border is the basis for the continued expansion of India-China relations. The two sides have agreed to appoint Special Representatives to explore the framework for a boundary settlement from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship. The 19th round of the Special Representatives Talks on the India-China boundary question was held in Beijing on 20-21 April 2016. The two sides are committed to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question through dialogue and peaceful negotiations.
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