Sushma Swaraj in China; will PM Modi re-establish bilateral ties?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral ties and step up the pace of high-level interactions to improve the relationship.

Swaraj arrived in Beijing on Saturday on a four-day visit to take part in the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This was their first meeting after Wang was elevated as state councilor last month which makes him the top diplomat of the country in the Chinese hierarchy. He also continues to be foreign minister.

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Sushma Swaraj at the foreign ministers’ meet has got things rolling in the bilateral relations of the two countries, which became somber post last year’s Doklam standoff.

During the joint press conference of Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, China not only confirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping but it also agreed to allow Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which was stopped by Beijing after the 72-day-long standoff.

Wang Yi confirmed that Prime Minister Modi will hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 27-28 in Wuhan city, ahead of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in June.

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“We will make sure that the informal summit (between PM Modi and Chinese President Jinping on April 27-28) will be a complete success and a milestone in China-India relations,” said Wang.

Commenting on the annual yatra, Swaraj said, “The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La route will be resumed this year. I am confident that with Chinese side’s full cooperation, this year’s yatra will be a fulfilling experience of visiting Indian pilgrims.”

China has also agreed to share data on Sutlej and Brahmaputra rivers.

“China has confirmed data sharing on Sutlej and Brahmaputra rivers in 2018. As it directly affects lives of people living there we welcome this,” Swaraj said.

She also said both New Delhi and Beijing have agreed to work together on the issues like terrorism, climate change, sustainable development and global healthcare.