During the 24th meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs) in Delhi, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed bilateral ties and the border dispute. This meeting followed the 23rd SR meeting in Beijing on December 18, 2024, and was part of ongoing efforts to restore relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.
Key points from the meeting:
- “Upward trend” in ties: Ajit Doval noted an improvement in relations since the last meeting, citing that “borders have been quiet” and that “there has been peace and tranquillity.”
- Leader’s consensus: Both Doval and Wang Yi referred to the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, in October of the previous year as a turning point that set a new direction for the bilateral relationship.
- Pre-SCO Summit talks: Doval highlighted the special importance of the talks, as they precede Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
- Looking forward: Wang Yi stated that setbacks in the past few years were not in the interest of the people of either country and expressed hope for a proper settlement of the boundary question.
- Other discussions: The talks also covered broader issues such as trade, connectivity, and regional security. The two sides are expected to consider new confidence-building measures to promote peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The meeting between the two Special Representatives, who lead the dialogue mechanism on the border dispute, is seen as a crucial step in rebuilding trust and ensuring stable development of bilateral ties between India and China.