North News
New Delhi, November 20
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the need to move beyond disengagement and work towards de-escalation during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Laos, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus (ADMM-Plus) meeting, according to the sources. This marks the second high-level India-China interaction in just two days.
On November 19, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Rio de Janeiro at the G20 summit. The discussions centered on progress in border disengagement and future steps in bilateral relations. Jaishankar confirmed that disengagement in the Depsang Plains and Demchok regions of eastern Ladakh has been completed, with both countries verifying troop withdrawals and dismantling military infrastructure.
During the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace along the border and resolving disputes through diplomacy. Both leaders welcomed the successful disengagement and emphasized the need for enhanced communication to prevent further tensions.
Jaishankar credited the successful implementation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) patrolling agreement to collaborative military and diplomatic efforts. However, he acknowledged that the full normalization of relations would take time, requiring a rebuilding of trust between the two nations.
