The meeting between Indian National Security Advisor Ajith Doval and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Johannesburg marks an important step in the efforts to enhance bilateral ties between India and China. The meeting occurred on July 24, during the Friends of BRICS meeting in South Africa.
It’s noteworthy that the meeting happened shortly after a previous meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Mr. Wang in Jakarta, where they discussed issues related to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas. The India-China military standoff has been a significant challenge in Mr. Jaishankar’s diplomatic career for over three years, making it crucial for both sides to engage in dialogue to normalize the bilateral relationship.
During the meeting with Mr. Doval, Mr. Wang emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic mutual trust and prioritizing cooperation while overcoming obstacles. China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported on these developments, signaling a willingness from both sides to work towards restoring sound and stable bilateral relations.
In the context of international relations, Mr. Wang affirmed China’s commitment to not seeking hegemony. He also expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with developing nations, including India, in supporting multilateralism and fostering a more just and equitable development of the international order.
The Friends of BRICS meeting provided an opportunity for Mr. Doval to address cybersecurity challenges and conduct bilateral meetings with counterparts from BRICS countries and Friends of BRICS nations. This meeting set the stage for the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled to take place in South Africa next month. BRICS is a coalition of five major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – that come together to discuss and collaborate on various economic and geopolitical issues.
Overall, the meeting between Mr. Doval and Mr. Wang signifies a positive step towards improving India-China relations and fostering cooperation between the two countries within the BRICS framework.
