External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain the foundation for normal relations between India and China. He made the remarks during a meeting in Manila on the sidelines of high-level discussions held under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework.

The meeting came as India and China continue efforts to improve relations after the military standoff in eastern Ladakh that lasted for more than four years. During the discussion, Jaishankar also raised India's concerns over market access, trade imbalance and uncertainty in supply chains. He stressed that these issues need attention as both countries move towards restoring normal ties.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar highlighted the need for a balanced and stable relationship between the two neighbours. He said, "We believe that a stable and cooperative relationship can best be developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity." He further added, "Such a relationship can make a valuable contribution to a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world."

Jaishankar made it clear that stability along the border remains essential for improving bilateral relations. He said, "Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that important objective." He added that both countries must continue paying close attention to the situation. He also said that existing mechanisms should receive full support and strong encouragement to maintain progress.

The External Affairs Minister said it is natural for India and China to have different national interests. He stressed that both countries should manage these differences carefully through diplomacy. Referring to the understanding reached by the leadership of both nations, he said, "It is natural that as two large and important nations, and that too proximate neighbours, India and China would have their own particular interests." He added, "That is why our leaders had agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them."

Jaishankar also spoke about economic issues during the meeting. He said India expects fair opportunities for its businesses in the Chinese market. He also highlighted concerns over the trade imbalance between the two countries and uncertainty in supply chains. Stressing the need for improvement, he said, "Fair market access and a trade balance ranks high in that regard. There are also concerns about predictability of supply chains. Facilitating both official and people-to-people exchanges merit our attention." He also said that both sides should agree on meetings of different mechanisms and platforms in line with their shared priorities.

India and China have taken several steps in recent months to improve bilateral relations. Diplomatic and military discussions helped both countries withdraw troops from several friction points along the LAC. In October 2024, the two sides finalised a disengagement agreement for Depsang and Demchok. These were the last remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

Soon after the agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan. During the meeting, both leaders took several decisions aimed at improving bilateral ties. In August last year, Prime Minister Modi visited Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. On the sidelines of the event, he held detailed talks with President Xi. Modi said India remained committed to strengthening relations through mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.

Referring to these developments, Jaishankar said, "Since the meeting of our leaders in Kazan in October 2024, relations between India and China have been gradually normalising." He added, "This direction was further affirmed when they met in Tianjin last August."

Jaishankar welcomed the recent progress made by both countries. He referred to the decision to resume direct flights, changes in the visa regime, the restart of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and the resumption of border trade. He said these measures reflect positive movement in bilateral relations and can help strengthen engagement between the two sides.

The minister also appreciated China's support for BRICS initiatives during India's chairship. He noted that the international situation remains challenging and called for greater dialogue between the two countries. He said, "The global situation is currently extremely complicated. Meeting at an international gathering, it would be appropriate to exchange views on some of its pressing aspects."

The meeting in Manila reflected India's consistent position that stronger ties with China depend on lasting peace along the border. India also expects progress on trade, market access, supply chains and people-to-people exchanges. The discussions showed that both countries continue working towards improving relations while addressing key concerns through diplomatic engagement.