- China is set to host the 3rd Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation in Nyingchi, Tibet – merely 160 km from India’s Arunachal Pradesh.
- This comes just after China denied visas to Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games.
- The Trans-Himalaya Forum was founded in 2018 with the objective of bolstering practical collaboration between the countries in the region.
- The theme for this year’s forum centres on ‘Ecological Civilization and Environmental Protection.
- Last month, India lodged a formal protest against China’s “deliberate and selective obstruction of sportspersons” following Beijing’s denial of visas and accreditation to athletes from Arunachal Pradesh.
- China claims Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as South Tibet, as its territory.
China is set to host the 3rd Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation in Nyingchi, Tibet – merely 160 km from India’s Arunachal Pradesh, this week, potentially escalating tensions between New Delhi and Beijing. This comes just after China denied visas to Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games. Pakistan’s acting foreign minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, will also attend the event.
“At the special invitation of the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani is visiting China to participate in the 3rd Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation, being held in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, from 4-5 October,” said a statement by the Pakistan foreign ministry.
The Trans-Himalaya Forum was founded in 2018 with the objective of bolstering practical collaboration between the countries in the region across multiple facets, encompassing geographical connectivity, environmental preservation, ecological conservation, and the fortification of cultural bonds. The most recent in-person gathering of the forum took place in 2019. The theme for this year’s forum centres on ‘Ecological Civilization and Environmental Protection.’
Pakistani Foreign minister is scheduled to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum. Additionally, he will hold meetings with several regional dignitaries, including the deputy prime minister of Mongolia, the foreign minister of China, and the interim foreign minister of Afghanistan, as outlined in the statement from the Pakistan foreign ministry.
Last month, India lodged a formal protest against China’s “deliberate and selective obstruction of sportspersons” following Beijing’s denial of visas and accreditation to athletes from Arunachal Pradesh. In response to China’s actions, Union sports minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his attendance at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as South Tibet, as its territory. In August, China released a new “standard” map that included both Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region in eastern Ladakh, drawing international criticism. In 2021, China renamed 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its efforts to reaffirm its territorial claims, a move that India has firmly rejected.
(With inputs from agencies)
