Why in news?

India and China have taken significant steps to improve their bilateral relations, including resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this summer, restoring direct flights, issuing visas for journalists and think tanks, and sharing trans-border river data.

These decisions followed a meeting between India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese officials.

What’s in today’s article?

• Fine print of India - China statements
• Analysis

Fine print of India - China statements

• On the framing of the meeting
  • India's Framing of the Meeting
    • India’s statement emphasized the review of the overall state of India-China bilateral relations, with a focus on people-centric steps to stabilize and rebuild ties.
    • India highlighted the agreed actions from the previous meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, conveying a cautious and nuanced approach to the discussions.
  • China's Framing of the Meeting
    • China, on the other hand, framed the discussions as being focused on the improvement and development of bilateral relations, noting that the two sides reached a consensus on specific measures.
    • Beijing presented a more optimistic assessment of the talks, with a focus on progress and forward-looking outcomes.
• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
• The statements from both India and China are similar regarding the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, but the Chinese statement reflects more urgency, specifying it will happen "as soon as possible."
• India stated that the yatra will resume in summer 2025, with discussions on modalities taking place as per existing agreements.
• China, however, mentioned the visit would be to the Xizang Autonomous Region and emphasized that discussions on arrangements would be initiated quickly.
• Direct Flights
  • India and China also agreed in principle to resume direct flights, but with slight differences in emphasis.
  • India’s statement highlighted the need for a new pact and for technical authorities from both sides to meet and negotiate an updated framework.
  • China’s statement, meanwhile, connected the resumption of flights with facilitating personnel flows and exchanges of resident journalists.
  • Before the flights were suspended due to the pandemic and the Galwan clash in 2020, the two countries had 539 direct flights per month, with a total seat capacity of over 1.25 lakh.
  • Currently, India has only one resident journalist in China, while China has none.
• Trans-Border River Cooperation
  • India and China have agreed to hold an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism to discuss issues related to trans-border rivers, including the sharing of hydrological data.
  • This follows concerns raised by India about China’s construction of the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River, which was cleared in January.
  • India stated that the meeting would focus on the resumption of hydrological data provision and other forms of cooperation concerning trans-border rivers.
  • China, similarly, emphasized the advancement of trans-border river cooperation and maintaining communication for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism.

Analysis

• India's Approach
  • India advocated for a step-by-step approach to address areas of mutual interest and concern, particularly focusing on the border situation.
  • The Indian statement highlighted the resumption of existing dialogues, agreeing to take a gradual approach in addressing each side’s priorities through these mechanisms.
• China's Approach
  • China maintained its long-term strategy for handling bilateral relations, emphasizing that both sides should view and manage relations based on the fundamental interests of their countries and peoples.
  • The Chinese statement stressed the importance of advancing exchanges and practical cooperation with a constructive attitude, while enhancing mutual trust and managing differences.
  • China called for promoting relations along a sound and stable track from a strategic and long-term perspective.
• Trade Concerns
  • India raised specific concerns regarding market access and discussed the need for policy transparency and predictability in economic and trade areas.
  • However, the Chinese statement did not address these concerns, leaving the issue unmentioned on their side.
• Support for SCO Presidency
  • China mentioned that India would extend full support for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and actively participate in the meetings under the SCO umbrella.
  • In contrast, India did not comment on this aspect in its statement.
• Differing Views on Mutual Relations
  • China emphasized the importance of avoiding mutual suspicion, estrangement, and exhaustion in relations between the two countries.
  • This framing contrasts with India’s approach, as outlined by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who has described India’s approach as focusing on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests.
  • The differences in these three mutuals reflect divergent perspectives on the nature of their relationship.