National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Wednesday during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China in Beijing. Both leaders reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective on the broader bilateral relationship while working toward a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue. They resolved to inject fresh momentum into the peace process.
Emphasizing the importance of peace and tranquillity in border areas, Doval and Wang underlined the need to ensure stable conditions on the ground, ensuring that border disputes do not hinder the normal development of bilateral relations.
“Drawing on the learnings from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border and advance effective border management. They decided to use, coordinate and guide the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this purpose,” read a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In addition to discussing the boundary issue, the two leaders exchanged views on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest. They provided positive directions for enhancing cross-border cooperation, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, data sharing on trans-border rivers, and promoting border trade.
The two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine the management rules for the border areas, strengthen confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and stability along the border. Both sides agreed to further strengthen the Special Representatives meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations, and tasked the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) with ensuring the follow-up implementation of this Special Representatives meeting.
India and China have also agreed to hold a new round of special representatives’ meetings in India next year as NSA invited Wang Yi to visit India at a mutually convenient date to hold the next round of SR meeting.
Six Points of Consensus
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, announced through a post on ‘X’ that the 23rd meeting of Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question resulted in reaching six key points of consensus.
- Both sides positively evaluated the resolution reached on border-related issues and reaffirmed the need to continue implementing the agreement. They agreed that border issues should be handled appropriately in the context of the overall bilateral relationship to ensure they do not affect the development of bilateral ties.
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to seek a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable package solution to the border issue in accordance with the political guiding principles agreed upon by the two countries’ special representatives in 2005.
- Both sides agreed to further refine the management rules for the border areas, strengthen confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and stability along the border.
- Both sides agreed to continue enhancing cross-border communication and cooperation, promoting the resumption of pilgrimages by Indian pilgrims to Xizang, cooperation on cross-border rivers, and trade at the Nathu La Pass.
- Both sides agreed to further strengthen the Special Representatives meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations, and tasked the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) with ensuring the follow-up implementation of this Special Representatives meeting.
- Both sides agreed to hold a new round of Special Representatives meeting in India next year.
The 23rd meeting of Special Representatives for China-India Boundary Question reaches six points of consensus:
1.Both sides positively evaluated the resolution reached on border-related issues and reaffirmed the need to continue implementing the agreement. They agreed that border… pic.twitter.com/KutJXFxIlh— Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) December 18, 2024
NSA Ajit Doval also called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing. In a post on ‘X’, the Chinese Ambassador said Han emphasized the need for both nations to implement the key consensus reached by their leaders, highlighting that next year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India. He called for maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges, fostering political mutual trust, and gradually resuming institutional dialogues. Han also stressed the importance of enhancing exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, and culture to restore bilateral relations to a path of stable and sustainable development.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Shri Ajit Doval, India's national security adviser in Beijing.
Noting that next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India, Han said the two sides should implement the… pic.twitter.com/m8aQBylzxS— Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) December 18, 2024
Ravi Shankar
