India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had arrived in Qingdao, China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference. During this, Rajnath Singh also held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on June 26. The Defence Minister acknowledged the work being done by both sides to bring back some semblance of normalcy in bilateral relations. He also highlighted the need to resolve complex issues through a structured roadmap of sustainability and de-escalation.
- The disengagement process should be followed completely.
- Efforts should be made to reduce tension on the border.
- There is a need to expedite the process of resolving border disputes to achieve the target of demarcation and delimitation of boundaries.
- Existing SR level mechanisms should be used to develop new processes to improve relationships and resolve differences.
After the meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh posted on the social media platform and wrote, “Had a conversation with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral General Dong Jun during the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.” He wrote, “We exchanged constructive and visionary views on issues related to bilateral relations.” Along with this, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his happiness over the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of about 6 years.