Jakarta - China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, made an appeal to India, urging the country to prioritize "common interests" and seek a middle ground to ease the ongoing border tensions between the two nations. During bilateral talks with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of ASEAN in Jakarta, Wang emphasized that the mutual interests shared by China and India outweigh their differences. He advocated for support and trust between the two countries, rather than suspicion.

The statement comes amid simmering border tensions and recent visa disputes that led to the expulsion of nearly all journalists from both sides. In light of these challenges, Wang expressed hope that India would meet China halfway and work towards finding a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue.

The two countries have agreed to conduct the next round of military commander-level talks on the border matter "as soon as possible," as stated by the Chinese foreign ministry.

While India and China are embroiled in a military standoff along their mostly undemarcated border in the Ladakh region, other territorial disputes persist. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of Tibet, and Kashmir is considered a disputed territory.

Despite the tensions, China remains India's second-largest trading partner. However, the 2020 Galwan clash, which resulted in casualties on both sides, created a setback in their relations. In response, India increased scrutiny of Chinese businesses and banned over 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. Additionally, it intensified scrutiny of Chinese investments.

Addressing India's restrictions on Chinese companies, Wang emphasized the need for a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese firms in India.