Foreign secy’s China visit an effort to put ties back on track
BEIJING : Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale’s recent visit to Beijing was a low-key affair but reflected that India and China were attempting to mend ties and move forward after last year’s military standoff at Doklam.
Gokhale’s visit came in the wake of the political crisis in the Maldives, where both countries seem to be locked in a bitter diplomatic tussle for influence amid overlapping strategic footprints.
Gokhale held talks with Chinese vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou, and called on foreign minister Wang Yi and state councillor Yang Jiechi.
Significantly, on Sunday, India congratulated China for becoming the vice chair of the Financial Action Task Force, a global body mandated to combat terror financing, and hoped Beijing would “uphold and support” the objective of the watchdog in a balanced and objective way.
China, Pakistan’s all-weather ally, has repeatedly blocked efforts at the UN by India, the US and the UK to designate JEM chief Masood Azhar a terrorist. Gokhale would have conveyed India’s concerns on terrorism during the discussions.
Wang and Yang are key in the fluid dynamics of the complexities of Sino-india ties. Gokhale, whose rich China experience was capped as ambassador last year, knows that. China and India are both representatives of emerging markets and big developing countries, Wang had said, adding that commonality cannot be replaced.
It is important for both countries to look at the bigger picture, especially since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Qingdao for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in June, the first summit India – and Pakistan – will attend after becoming full members.