Lok Sabha Question No. 2291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: India-China Strategic Dialogue
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, RAKESH SINGH, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, NAGARAJAN P., BHARATENDRA SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2291 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.3.2016

## INDIA-CHINA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE

## 2291. SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Foreign  Secretary  visited  China  for  India-China strategic dialogue;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  main  issues  discussed  at  the  meeting  and  the  outcome thereof;
- (d) whether any MoU on Indo-China cooperation has been signed; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details thereof along with other steps taken by the Government to resolve the border dispute and boost relations with China?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c) Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar held the first restructured India-China Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Mr. Zhang  Yesui,  Executive  Vice  Minister  in  the  Chinese  Ministry  of Foreign  Affairs  on  22  February  2017  in  Beijing.  The  Strategic Dialogue  was  preceded  by  senior  official  level  dialogues  between India and China covering issues of Afghanistan, multilateral diplomacy  including  counter-terrorism,  nuclear  issues  as  well  as bilateral relations. During his visit, Foreign Secretary also called on State Councillor Mr. Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi. During these meetings, the two sides held in-depth discussions on bilateral,  regional  and  international  issues  of  mutual  interest  and concern.

(d) & (e) No  MoU  on  India-China  cooperation  was  signed  during the visit.

Both sides attach importance to furthering bilateral relations and consolidating the Closer Developmental Partnership, which was established  during  the  visit  of  Chinese  President  Mr.  Xi  Jinping  to India  in  September  2014.  During  the  visit  of  Prime  Minister  Shri Narendra  Modi  to  China  in  May  2015,  further  steps  were  taken  to strengthen  the  Closer  Developmental  Partnership.  Both  sides  have agreed to maintain high level exchanges including at the leadership level. During 2016, Prime Minister Modi met with President Xi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tashkent in June, the G-20 Summit in  Hangzhou  in  September,  and  the  BRICS  Summit,  which  India hosted  in  Goa  in  October  2016.  The  two  countries  have  also cooperated  in  multilateral  frameworks  like  G-20  and  BRICS.  China has supported India's entry into SCO, which would provide another multilateral platform for bilateral engagement. The two sides have enhanced  cooperation  in  border  areas  by  establishment  of  more border personnel meting points and conducting joint military exercises.  New  dialogue  mechanisms  in  the  area  of  counterterrorism, including for exchange of information have been initiated. Important steps, including for expanding economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, have been taken to develop India-China bilateral relations in diverse areas.

The two sides agree that peace and tranquility on the border is the basis for the continued expansion of India-China relations. The two  sides  have  agreed  to  appoint Special  Representatives  to explore the framework for a boundary settlement from the political perspective  of  the  overall  bilateral  relationship.  The  19 th   round  of the  Special  Representatives  Talks  on  the  India-China  boundary question was held in Beijing on 20-21 April 2016. The two sides are committed  to  seeking  a  fair,  reasonable  and  mutually  acceptable solution  to  the  boundary  question  through  dialogue  and  peaceful negotiations.

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