After Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India has now reportedly proposed to hold the G-20 meeting in 2023 in the Union Territory of Ladakh as well. The move might provoke a response from China which has already expressed its displeasure over New Delhi’s plans to host the intergovernmental summit in J&K next year.
India, which will be hosting the 2023 G-20 summit, on June 30 stated it is considering several venues for the meeting and J&K could be one such venue.
The same day China echoed close ally Pakistan’s objection to India’s plans and said that relevant sides should avoid "unilateral moves" that may "complicate" the situation. “China's position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, should be peacefully and properly addressed in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a media briefing.
This comes at a time when bilateral relations between India and China are at their lowest following a major standoff between the armies of the two countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which is yet to be resolved.
If the proposal materialises, this will be the first international summit to be held in J&K and Ladakh post August 2019 which is when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state provoking strong reaction from both China and Pakistan.
ALSO WATCH: From scoring highest to lowest: Bengaluru's 'liveability' dilemma