Jaishankar, Yi discuss restarting yatra, flights

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday discussed ways to further normalise bilateral ties, such as resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and direct flights between the two countries, following up on an understanding last year to end the face-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

- Rezaul H Laskar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday discussed ways to further normalise bilateral ties, such as resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and direct flights between the two countries, following up on an understanding last year to end the face-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa the latest in a string of meetings between top leaders of India and China since the two sides agreed on October 21 to disengage frontline forces at the two "friction points" of Demchok and Depsang in Ladakh sector of LAC.

Jaishankar and Wang "reviewed developments in our bilateral relationship since their last meeting in November", external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing.

Among the issues that figured during the meeting that lasted about 30 minutes were management of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, trans-border rivers, flight connectivity and travel facilitation, Jaiswal said. The two leaders also exchanged views on the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).