'Future of India-China relations depends on border situation'

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Li  Shangfu in New Delhi on Thursday. This is the first bilateral meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries since the Galwan Valley standoff in 2020. The Chinese defence minister arrived in New Delhi today to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting on April 28. According to sources, the two ministers had an open discussion on various issues of bilateral relations, including the development of the India-China border area. Rajnath Singh has made it clear that the future of India-China relations depends on peace and stability on the border. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has categorically said that military cooperation between the two countries can progress if peace and stability is established along the border. "There should be a movement towards de-escalation after the withdrawal of troops and expressed hope for a positive response," Singh said. India wants to improve relations with China, but this is possible only after peace and stability is restored along the border. "