External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that it takes two hands to clap and China too must also have that belief in a workable relationship, adding that the present downturn in the relationship between the two nations is not India’s creation.

Delivering the Syama Prasad Lecture: New India and the World in Kolkata today, the External Affairs Minister said that China must come to the understanding that relationships between major countries work only when they are based on mutual interest, sensitivity, and respect. Jaishankar stated that the current downturn in bilateral ties was caused by China’s violation of agreements from 1993 and 1996, specifically by moving forces to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He said, “The present downturn in our ties was not our creation…It was created by China, it was created by China ..violating two agreements of 1993 and 1996 and moving forces to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in violation of those agreements.”

Reiterating that it has to be mutual efforts from both sides in order to sustain a diplomatic relationship, the EAM said that China needs to stop trying to unilaterally change the status quo.

“Now, if we are to have a decent relationship, I think…they need to observe those agreements, they need to stop trying to unilaterally change the status quo. They need to come to the understanding that relationships between major countries work only when they are based on mutual interest, mutual sensitivity, and mutual respect. They need to understand this. And my endeavour is to make them understand this,” Jaishankar said.

Source ANI