External Affairs Minister(EAM) of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited(3-day from August 11 to 13,2019)Beijing, China during which he had bilateral meetings with his counterpart Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi, Vice President Wang Qishan, 4th meeting of the India-China Media Forum on cultural and people-to-people exchanges & signed 5 MoUs(memorandum of understanding) during the visit.
Aim:
To focus on the gamut of issues relating to the international situation, regional aspects, and the future India-China bilateral relations.
4th India-China Media Forum 2019 held in Beijing, China
On August 12, 2019, 4th India-China Media Forum was held in Beijing, China has brought the important stakeholders and opinion makers from the two countries, attended by members of the Indian and Chinese media.
External Affairs Minister’s Remarks at the 4th India-China Media Forum
i. EAM Jaishankar stated that the leaders of the 2 countries had agreed that “ Differences shouldn’t become disputes”, which come after the china refrained to Ladakh being made a Union Territory and asked the India& Pakistan to avoid action that increases bilateral tension.
2nd Meeting of China-India High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges Held in Beijing, China
On August 12, 2019, The 2nd Meeting of China-India High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges Held in Beijing, China co-chaired by Jai Shankar and his counterpart Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister.
i. The meet reviewed the progress in the implementation of decisions on areas of education, culture and cultural relics protection, tourism, media, youth, sports, locality, film, and television, think tank and traditional medicine taken in the inaugural meeting of High-Level Mechanism which was held in New Delhi in 2018.
ii. The meet discussed new proposals and ideas to further promote such exchanges & the two sides agreed to organize 100 activities to further strengthen our people-to-people ties.
iii. The two sides jointly signed the action plan for exchanges and cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of China and India in 2020 and signed of bilateral cooperation documents in people-to-people and cultural fields including culture, sports, traditional medicine, and museums.
List of MoUs signed during the visit of External Affairs Minister to China
| S.No | MoU signed between India and China | Representative Signing from Indian Side | Representative Signing from Chinese Side |
| 1 | Plan of Action to Implement the Protocol between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in Bilateral Relations, 2020 | Dr. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India | Mr. Wang Yi, State Councillor and Foreign Minister of PRC |
| 2 | MoU on Sports Cooperation Between the General Administration of Sports of People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India | Shri Radhey Shyam Julaniya, Secretary Sports, Govt of India | Mr. Gao Zhidan, Deputy Director-General, General Administration of Sports of China |
| 3 | Programme of Cultural Exchange between the Government of People’s Republic of China and the National Museum, New Delhi, Government of | India Shri Vikram Misri, Ambassador of India to PRC | Mr. Zhang Xu, Vice Minister, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of PRC |
| 4 | MoU Between National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Ayush of the Republic of India concerning cooperation in Traditional Medicine | Shri Vikram Misri, Ambassador of India to PRC | Mr. Yu Wenming, Director General, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| 5 | MoU Between Hubei Provincial Museum, People’s Republic of China and the National Museum, New Delhi, Government of India | Shri Vikram Misri, Ambassador of India to PRC | Mr. Fangqin, Curator, Hubei Provincial Museum, PRC |
India-China Film Week inaugurated by S Jaishankar in Beijing, China
On August 12,2019 , in a bid to strengthen people to people connection and cultural activities between the India and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on jointly inaugurated the ‘India-China Film Week’ in Beijing, China, that marks the commemoration of 100 activities that would be organised in the future in the areas of film, broadcasting, education, among others.
J&K move won’t impact Line of Actual Control: Jai Shanker to China
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated to Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the ‘bifurcation of J&K(Jammu &Kashmir) is India’s internal matter and has “no implication for either the external boundaries of India or the Line of Actual Control with China’. India is “not raising any additional territorial claims” and that China’s concerns are “misplaced”.
China promises to address India’s concern over the ballooning trade deficit
EAM Jaishanker expressed concern over India’s ballooning trade deficit in bilateral trade. He asked to access India’s Pharmaceutical & IT(Information Technology) products in the Chinese market.
i. China promised to address India’s growing concerns over the trade deficit and suggested expanding cooperation in areas like industrial production, tourism, and border trade to achieve “overall balance” in bilateral commercial relations.
Meeting with Chinese Delegation
Jaishankar meets China Vice President Wang Qishan &discusses ways to strengthen bilateral ties
EAM Jaishankar met the Vice President Wang Qishan & discussed the evolving global situation and the larger rebalancing that reflects the rise of India and China as two large developing countries.
About China:
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi
President: Xi Jinping