EAM Sushma Swaraj meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj continued her engagement with the Chinese leadership on her second day of China visit. She also met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders and discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties.
She called on the Vice President of China Wang Qishan in Beijing. Sushma Swaraj is in China to participate in the two-day SCO foreign Ministers meeting currently underway in Beijing.
After holding bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, External Affairs minister had announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an informal meeting on 27 and 28th of this month in Wuhan city in central China.
In a major development, India and China on Sunday agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Natha Lu route in Sikkim, 10 months after the pilgrimage was stopped through Nathu La.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was stopped by China in the aftermath of the military face-off with India last year at Doklam. Ministry of external affairs organises the yatra from June to September each year through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. The yatra, which holds religious value, cultural significance, is undertaken by hundreds of people every year.
Besides, China also agreed to resume sharing of hydrological data of the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers. Sharing of hydrological data crucial to predict floods in India’s northeast region, prone to natural calamities.. China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.
Speaking at function organised by the Indian embassy in Beijing Swaraj asked Indians and Chinese to learn each other’s languages as it will help them overcome the communication barriers, which could further strengthen relations between the two neighbours.
Meanwhile defence Minister nirmal sitha raman also reached beijing on Monday to participate in the SCO defence minister’s meet, who is visiting Beijing to take part in the foreign ministers meet. Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit meet to be held in China in June this year, the ministers of the group countries are meeting to exchange views on cooperation on multilateral arena and from counter-terrorism to climate change and sustainable development.
