Vientiane: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has underscored the necessity for India and China to transition from a state of disengagement towards a phase of de-escalation, with the aim of further enhancing trust and confidence between the two nations. This was conveyed during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, in Laos on Wednesday.
The dialogue took place in Vientiane, where Defence Minister Singh engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun.
The context of this meeting was set against the backdrop of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, during which Defence Minister Singh expressed his optimism for the deepening of trust and confidence between India and China, underscoring the importance of de-escalation as a means to achieve this objective.
This meeting marked the first gathering of Defence Ministers following the recent disengagement agreements and the subsequent meeting of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit.
During the discussion, Defence Minister Singh highlighted the significance of fostering amicable relations between India and China, the two largest nations on the planet, noting that such positive relations would have far-reaching implications for global peace and prosperity, particularly considering their status as neighboring countries.
He emphasized the need to shift the focus towards cooperation rather than conflict, and called for a reflection on the lessons learned from the unfortunate border clashes of 2020, with a commitment to prevent their recurrence and to ensure peace and tranquillity along the India-China border.
Furthermore, Defence Minister Singh expressed his anticipation for the strengthening of trust and confidence between the two nations through de-escalation. Both parties agreed to collaborate on a roadmap aimed at rebuilding mutual trust and understanding.
Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Singh also engaged in bilateral discussions with Khaled Nordin, Minister of Defence, Malaysia, and General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Lao PDR.
At the well-attended Indian Community event, Defence Minister Singh highlighted India's recent progress in various sectors and reiterated the government's commitment to achieving full development by 2047.
He also met with General Chansamone Chanyalath, Lao PDR Defence Minister, during which they both expressed appreciation for the signing of the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchanged during the recent visit of the Hon'ble Prime Minister to Laos. They concurred that the signing of this revised MoU would significantly contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations and the enhancement of cooperation in capacity-building and other spheres.
He commended Lao PDR for its efficient and inclusive leadership in its capacity as the Chair of ASEAN this year. He conveyed India's unwavering support for ASEAN's unity and central role in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and assured General Chansamone Chanyalath that India's commitment to strengthening ties with Lao PDR and ASEAN in all areas remains steadfast.
