In a significant development for India-China relations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have agreed to work together to create conditions for improving bilateral ties. The meeting, held on the sidelines of a BRICS security conclave in St. Petersburg, Russia, saw both officials expressing their commitment to resolving the ongoing border disputes and fostering a more stable relationship.
During their discussions, Wang and Doval acknowledged the progress made in recent consultations on border issues. Both serve as Special Representatives for the India-China border talks mechanism, underscoring the high-level focus on this critical issue. They emphasized that stable relations between the two nations are fundamentally important for the well-being of both populations and contribute to regional peace and development.
The agreement to work towards improved relations follows a period of heightened tension, stemming from the 2020 border standoff in eastern Ladakh. While acknowledging the challenges, both sides have expressed a desire to move forward. China and India have agreed to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, enhance mutual understanding and trust, maintain continuous communication, and actively work towards a more positive trajectory in their bilateral relationship.
Wang, a member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed the importance of unity and cooperation between China and India, two ancient civilizations and emerging developing nations, in a turbulent world. He emphasized the need to avoid conflict and find common ground, urging both sides to handle differences pragmatically and work towards a healthy, stable, and sustainable relationship.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a press release highlighting the meeting. It stated that India and China have agreed to “redouble” their efforts to achieve complete disengagement in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, emphasizing the urgency of finding a resolution. Doval conveyed to Wang that peace and tranquillity in border areas and respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are crucial for restoring normalcy in bilateral ties.
The Doval-Wang meeting came two weeks after India and China held diplomatic talks, where they agreed to intensify contacts through diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues. The talks have led to some progress, with India reporting that roughly 75 percent of the “disengagement problems” have been resolved. However, India remains concerned about the increasing militarization of the frontier.
The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020. While disengagement has occurred in some areas, a full resolution to the border row remains elusive. The conflict in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, the most serious military clash between the two countries in decades, significantly strained relations. India has maintained that a peaceful resolution to the border dispute is essential for the normalization of its relationship with China.
The two sides have held 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to address the standoff, highlighting the extensive efforts underway to find a peaceful resolution. The latest meeting between Doval and Wang offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that both countries are committed to resolving their differences and rebuilding a constructive relationship.
