China and India have resumed formal high-level dialogue to address their long-standing border dispute, marking the first such meeting in five years. The talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval took place in Beijing, where they discussed seeking fair and reasonable solutions to the border issue.
In October, both countries reached an agreement on military disengagement and patrolling arrangements along contested border areas, following a tense standoff since a deadly clash in 2020. The recent meeting reaffirmed the commitment to implement the disengagement agreement and emphasized the importance of handling the dispute properly to avoid negative impacts on bilateral relations.
Both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas and promote healthy bilateral relations. They also discussed strengthening cross-border exchanges, including the resumption of Indian pilgrims' trips to Tibet, river cooperation, and border trade at Nathula pass in Sikkim.
India's Foreign Ministry echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for peaceful conditions on the ground to facilitate normal bilateral relations. The discussions focused on measures to ensure peace and tranquility on the border and enhance effective border management.
The recent efforts to ease tensions come amidst China's diplomatic outreach to mend ties with key allies and partners, including Japan and Australia. The strained relations between China and India escalated in 2020 after a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The de facto border between the two countries, known as the Line of Actual Control, has been a longstanding source of friction since the 1962 war. Despite rounds of border talks, friction points persist, particularly in areas that have turned into buffer zones.
The border patrol agreement reached in October was seen as a positive step, coinciding with a meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia. Wang emphasized the importance of viewing China-India relations strategically and recalibrating the course for recovery and development.
