Swaraj-Wang meet, agree to strengthen mutual trust

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today held talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on key bilateral issues in a "forward looking" approach, which sought to put behind issues of divergence such as the Dokalam episode.
According to officials, Swaraj and Wang discussed all issues of mutual interest
"Foreign Minister Wang Yi and I agreed that we should further strengthen our mutual trust to develop a better understanding between the two parties. And it will be better to meet again and without agenda, which will help us to expand our mutual understanding," Swaraj said.
On his part, Wang talked about political settlement to resolve "hotspot and difficult issues" and also pitched for dialogue and consultations over use of force.

The Chinese foreign minister also stressed on the need to find commonalities in strategic areas.
Asked if the Dokalam episode came up in the talks, officials did not confirm but said "all issues of mutual interest were discussed".

Imparting fresh momentum to bilateral relationship, EAM Sushma Swaraj had a positive and "forward looking" meeting with Wang, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Officials said there was a lot of "positivity" during the "frank" discussions Swaraj and Wang held on wide-ranging issues.
There was a realisation that both India and China are neighbours and they need to live side by side, a senior official, privy to the discussion between the two sides, said.

The feeling during the discussion was that there will be differences but the emphasis should be on convergences, the official said.
This is the first high-level visit from China after the Dokalam standoff in the Sikkim sector this summer. Chinese and Indian troops were locked in a 73-day border standoff from June 16 when Indian soldiers stopped Chinese personnel from building a key road close to India's 'chicken's neck' corridor.
On August 28, India announced the "disengagement" between the soldiers of the two countries.
The road was being built by China in an area also claimed by Bhutan.
Wang also said connectivity projects should compliment instead of contradicting each other and should supplement and not conflict for regional integration.

The remarks by the Chinese leader come in the backdrop of India boycotting the major Chinese infrastructure initiative 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) part of which was passing through the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), which India asserts is under illegal occupation of Pakistan.
Wang also stressed that China does not approve of "sphere of influence".
Swaraj also held a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"Further strengthening our strategic partnership, EAM Sushma Swaraj had a productive meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on issues of mutual interest..," Kumar said.