Trans-Himalayan Forum-Arunachal Pradesh: China is gearing up to convene the 3rd Trans-Himalayan Forum for International Cooperation on October 4-5, in close proximity to India's Arunachal Pradesh border. Notably, Pakistan, a steadfast ally of China, is among the attendees.
Established in 2018 under Beijing's auspices to foster collaboration among nations situated along the Himalayan corridor, the forum includes member nations such as Pakistan, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.
This year's gathering will be hosted in Nyingchi, Tibet, an area under Chinese governance located approximately 160 kilometers from Arunachal Pradesh in India's northeastern region.
In a formal announcement, Islamabad confirmed the attendance of its Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani. The statement read, "At the special invitation of China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will be visiting China to partake in the 3rd Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation, scheduled in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, from October 4th to 5th." Jilani is slated to deliver the forum's opening address and engage in sideline discussions with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts, along with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia.
Although the forum was established with the objective of addressing various regional concerns, including connectivity, this year's theme revolves around 'Ecological Civilization and Environmental Protection.' Importantly, this marks the first in-person meeting since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The timing of this meeting, near the Arunachal border, coincides with a period of strained relations between China and India. Both countries have been entangled in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has publicly acknowledged that Sino-Indian relations have been "abnormal" since the clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which resulted in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers' lives.
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