Doval meets China's top diplomat, discusses matters of mutual interest

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with the Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Yang Jiechi during the former's two-day bilateral visit to China.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Doval, who visited the country from April 12 to 13, was a part of regular high-level engagement between India and China.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues spanning bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Doval and Jiechi agreed to maintain the pace of high-level exchanges, with a view to fully realise the potential of a closer development partnership between the two countries.

On a related note, the MEA announced on Thursday that External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to visit on a two-day visit each to China and neighbouring Mongolia from April 22 to 25.

Swaraj will participate in a ministerial-level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing, where India became a full member in 2017.

India was an 'observer' in the grouping since 2005 and was made full member along with Pakistan last year.

According to reports, Swaraj is also likely to hold a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the summit.

Her visit to China comes in the backdrop of the efforts made by both India and China to move past the tensions which rose out of last year's Doklam standoff.