Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Qin Gang, respectively, in Goa on Thursday, on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers.
China
Jaishankar said on Twitter that the Chinese FM agreed that the countries’ joint “focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.” He added that the two engaged in a “detailed discussion” about the bilateral relationship.
Meanwhile, Qin noted that the current situation on the China-India border is “generally stable” and suggested that both sides “continue to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate existing achievements, strictly abide by relevant agreements and agreements, promote the further cooling and easing of the border situation, and maintain sustainable peace and tranquility in the border areas.”
A detailed discussion with State Councillor and FM Qin Gang of China on our bilateral relationship. Focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 4, 2023
Also discussed SCO, G20 and BRICS. pic.twitter.com/hxheaPnTqG
Qin further recommended that the neighbours “explore a road to peaceful and friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
He also noted that, as the two most populous developing countries in the world, India and China are “in a critical period of modernisation.”
Both countries must “approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, respect, learn from and make achievements from each other, and embark on a new path of harmonious coexistence, peaceful development and common rejuvenation among major neighbours,” Qin underscored.
Russia
Jaishankar also tweeted about his bilateral meeting with Russian FM Lavrov, who he previously spoke with on the sidelines of the G20 FM meet in New Delhi in March.
“Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Appreciated Russia’s support for India’s SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS,” the Indian EAM said.
SCO
The security grouping, which aims to counterbalance Western influence, comprises eight member nations, namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which founded the group in 2001, and India and Pakistan, which joined in 2017.
This year, the group is being presided by India. The talks in Goa aim to promote multilateralism, regional security, and in-person interactions among the delegations.
Jaishankar did not hold a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.