In a rare diplomatic engagement, China hosted India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday for high-level talks in Beijing. The discussions, led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasized the importance of “maintaining peace” and pursuing a “comprehensive resolution” to their longstanding border disputes.
The meeting, the first of its kind since December 2019, signals a thaw in relations between the two Asian powers, whose ties had been strained by a deadly 2020 clash in the Ladakh region. That skirmish, involving soldiers from both sides, resulted in the loss of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese lives.
Amid ongoing efforts to ease tensions, the dialogue was held under a bilateral mechanism established in 2003 to address border issues. During the “substantive discussions,” both sides reached a series of agreements, according to China’s foreign ministry.
The statement highlighted their commitment to “continue measures to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas” and to foster “steady and sound development” in bilateral ties. Both nations reaffirmed their resolve to seek a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” solution to the boundary disputes, pledging positive efforts to advance the dialogue.
This diplomatic milestone follows an October agreement on border patrols and a rare face-to-face meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit.
China and India share a vast 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) contested border, where sporadic skirmishes and accusations of territorial encroachments are common. Despite the challenges, the nations agreed to reconvene in India in 2025, marking a cautious step forward in their complex relationship.
As the world watches, the dialogue reflects a renewed effort by the two giants to bridge divides and prioritize stability in a region marked by both rivalry and interdependence.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE