External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday during the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, the capital city of Brazil.

The External Affairs Minister posted the specifics of his meeting on social media platform X, stating that they held discussions on the future steps in bilateral cooperation and reviewed the recent disengagement in Ladakh. "On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, met CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China," Jaishankar said in his X post. He added that the two leaders "noted the progress in the recent disengagement in the India-China border areas".

The external minister also remarked that China and India discussed the global situation and shared opinions on the next stages of their bilateral relations. The meeting between Jaishankar and Wang Yi took place a month after Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. During their discussion, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the relationship between India and China holds significant importance for both nations' citizens and for fostering regional and global peace and stability.

Rajnath Singh, the minister of defence, also reaffirmed the stance, saying, "At some areas along the LAC, discussions have been ongoing between India and China at both diplomatic and military levels to resolve conflicts. Following recent talks, there has been a broad consensus to restore the ground situation. This consensus has developed on the basis of equal and mutual security. The agreement includes rights related to patrolling and grazing in traditional areas". He added, "Based on this consensus, the disengagement process is nearly complete. We will strive to move beyond just disengagement, but for that, we will need to wait a little longer."

The development follows the agreement between India and China which both countries have claimed to reach mutually on the patrolling plans along the Line of Actual Control in the border regions. In 2020, Chinese military manoeuvres in eastern Ladakh along the LAC triggered the start of the Indian-Chinese border conflict. The two countries' relations were severely strained as a result of the protracted tensions caused by the standoff. 

Nonetheless, China and India will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties this year.