India

ASEAN forum: Jaishankar, top Chinese diplomat discuss peace in border areas

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NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta on Friday to discuss outstanding issues relating to peace and tranquility in border areas.
“Just concluded a meeting with director Wang Yi of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs,” Jaishankar said on Twitter.
Besides discussing border areas, the conversation also covered the East Asia Summit/ARF agenda, BRICS and the Indo-Pacific,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar said India was responding to global challenges by “pressing for diplomacy to address conflicts; promoting global cooperation and delegitimisation to counter terrorism; and advocating expanded resource access to help the Global South”.
Must respect UN maritime law: Jaishankar
In a swipe at China’s increasing aggression in the Indo-pacific region and the South China Sea, the EAM’s speech focused on maritime matters.
He stressed on the primacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and support for ASEAN’s position that it is the basis for determining entitlements.
“We are concerned about activities undermining peace and stability. Any Code of Conduct must not prejudice the rights and interests of third parties,” the EAM said.
“ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India’s Act East policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific. A strong and unified ASEAN plays an important role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific. India firmly supports ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” he added.
India has been locked in a military standoff with China for more than three years, with Jaishankar claiming it to be the most complex challenge in his long diplomatic career.
Wang, a former Chinese foreign minister, is attending the ASEAN plus meetings in Jakarta as the incumbent foreign minister Qin Gang is unwell.
(With inputs from agencies)


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