India's foreign minister holds talks with US, Chinese counterparts

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) — India's foreign minister on Thursday held separate meetings with his US and Chinese counterparts in the capital New Delhi on the sidelines of a G-20 foreign affairs meeting.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted that he met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang this afternoon.

"Our discussions were focused on addressing current challenges to the bilateral relationship, especially peace, and tranquillity in the border areas," he said, adding that the two sides also spoke about the G-20 agenda.

Since May 2020, the two countries have been locked in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — the de facto border between China and India in the region of Ladakh, part of disputed Jammu and Kashmir.

In June 2020, at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in a border clash.

While the tensions at the border eased after several rounds of talks between the two sides, Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande said in January this year that the situation was stable but "unpredictable."

Earlier, Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"Pleased to meet US Secretary of State @SecBlinken on #G20FMM sidelines," he said, adding that they had reviewed bilateral ties and discussed global issues.

The G-20 foreign ministers' meeting began on Thursday, with officials saying that the Russia-Ukraine war was to be a "major topic of discussion."

Indian Foreign Ministry officials said that over 40 delegations, including from G-20 and guest nations as well as international organizations, were attending the meeting, which is "one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G-20 presidency."