Sushma likely to hold crucial bilateral meet with Chinese Foreign Minister next week

NEW DELHI : After a major diplomatic victory when United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) condemned Pulwama attack and wherein Chinese views were apparently brushed aside, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set for a crucial meet with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi next week.
According to sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, a bilateral meeting between the two is slated for February 27 at Wuzhen in China on the margins of the 16th Russia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministerial Meeting.

Ms Swaraj will travel to Wuzhen, China to participate, together with the host Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in the 16th Russia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministerial Meeting.
The three Ministers are expected to exchange views on the global situation, regional developments of common concern, address global challenges such as terrorism and discuss trilateral exchanges and activities.

It may be recalled that the last RIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting was held in New Delhi on December 11, 2017.

External Affairs Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as well on the margins of the RIC meeting.

In a major boost to India’s diplomatic efforts, the UN Security Council comprising 15 permanent and non-permanent members on Thursday finally adopted the resolution ‘unanimously’ that condemned in the ?strongest terms? the ?heinous and cowardly? terror attack and also named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in the statement.

“These can be seen as diplomatic win,” sources said.
Besides, P-5, other nations in 15-member powerful organ of UN include – Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Belgium and Germany.
The US, UK, France, Russia and China are permanent members with veto power.

The UN Security Council statement making strong reference to terrorism and even naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad for February 14 dastardly act was ‘forcefully and tactfully’ delayed by China for few days, sources said.
Pakistan had worked overtime to avoid a strong resolution completely, but finally UNSC statement came and it was largely due to pro-active push by countries like the US and France.
(AGENCIES)