Ready To Seek Solution To Key Issues, China Minister Tells S Jaishankar

India had conveyed to China that continuation of the existing situation in Ladakh was impacting the bilateral ties in a "negative manner"

With India firmly conveying to China that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was visibly impacting the bilateral ties in a "negative manner", Beijing today said it is ready to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the issues that require "emergency response" through negotiation and consultation. During their hour-long in-person meeting on the sidelines of the SCO conclave in Dushanbe on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also told his Chinese counterpart and State Councilor Wang Yi that any unilateral change in the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was "not acceptable" to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh. The meeting in Tajikistan's capital took place amid a stalemate in the disengagement process between the two militaries in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh after they withdrew troops and weapons from the Pangong Lake areas in February following series of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff since May last year. In a statement posted on its website on Thursday on Wang Yi's talks with Dr Jaishankar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, the minister stated the overall situation in the border area has de-escalated after the withdrawal of troops from the Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake areas.