Jaishankar meets Wang in Brazil as China urges India to resume direct flights suspended since 2020

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil’s capital city Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. During their meeting, the Chinese leader urged India to step up cooperation on resumption of direct flight between the two countries along with facilitating visa processes and journalist exchanges.

In the meeting, Jaishankar and Wang Yi also noted the progress in the recent disengagement in Ladakh and discussed the next steps in strengthening the bilateral ties. They also talked about the global situation.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said: “On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, met CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China. We noted the progress in the recent disengagement in the India-China border areas. And exchanged views on the next steps in our bilateral ties. Also discussed the global situation.”

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On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, met CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China.

We noted the progress in the recent disengagement in the India-China border areas. And exchanged views on the next steps in our bilateral ties.

Also discussed the global situation. pic.twitter.com/fZDwHlkDQt

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 19, 2024

China seeks resumption of direct flights

According to a report by Reuters, China’s foreign ministry, in a statement after the meeting, said that in his interaction with EAM Jaishankar, Wang Yi urged for resumption of direct flights between India and China. The move is expected to enhance people-to-people exchanges as well as bilateral trade.

The Chinese Foreign Minister asked the Indian side to step up cooperation on facilitating visa processes and journalist exchanges.

‘Less suspicion, more mutual trust’

In the statement, China’s foreign ministry also said that Wang also talked about the need for “more mutual trust and less suspicion,” between the two countries.

In October, India and China began implementing an agreement to end a military standoff on each side of the disputed Himalayan border.

Since 2020, India-China border areas, especially in Eastern Ladakh, have been a focal point of military tensions, but the two countries have worked towards de-escalation after an agreement last month.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Wang Yi came a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in five years on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in Russia’s Kazan city.

During the meeting, PM Modi had said that the ties between the two nations are important for the people of India and China and for regional and global peace and stability.

With inputs from agencies.