Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State summit in Astana on Thursday. The discussions focused on the early resolution of remaining issues in border areas, with both leaders agreeing to intensify efforts through diplomatic and military channels.

Emphasizing the importance of respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar and Wang underscored the need to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border regions. The meeting highlighted the three mutuals—mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest—as guiding principles for the future of Indo-China bilateral ties.

Jaishankar is representing India at the SCO Summit, which is being held on July 3 and 4. The summit is expected to concentrate on regional security and explore ways to enhance connectivity and trade among member states.

While it is customary for the Indian Prime Minister to attend the SCO summit, this year Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation. In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s full support for the success of the summit to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan is hosting the summit as the current chair of the SCO.

India, which chaired the SCO last year, hosted the summit in a virtual format in July 2023. The transition of the chairmanship to Kazakhstan marks a significant moment for the regional organization, as it continues to address critical issues affecting member countries.