National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held ‘meaningful discussions’ during Special Representatives talks here on Wednesday and reached a six-point consensus, including maintaining peace on the borders and promoting healthy and stable development of relations. This includes taking further steps also. According to a press release issued by China’s Foreign Ministry, during the first meeting held after a gap of five years, both sides positively evaluated the solution reached between the two countries on border issues and reiterated that the implementation work should continue.
what was decided
NDTV has learned that the Special Representatives reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective on overall bilateral relations while emphasizing a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for resolution of the border dispute. A senior official revealed, “Both sides agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation and promote the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The Mansarovar Yatra has been closed since 2020. During the discussions both The Special Representatives also underlined the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the border areas to promote the overall development of India-China bilateral relations, drawing lessons from the events of 2020. And discussed various measures to advance effective border management.
According to the release, both officials believed that the border issue should be handled appropriately in the context of the overall situation of bilateral relations, so that it does not impact the development of relations. It said both sides agreed to take steps to maintain peace and stability in the border area and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. Both sides reiterated their commitment to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary issue in accordance with the political guidelines agreed by the Special Representatives of the two countries in 2005 and to take positive steps to promote this process.
business will increase
It said the two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine management and control rules in the border area, strengthen confidence building measures and achieve lasting peace and stability along the border. It said the two countries agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation and resumption of Indian pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border riverine cooperation and promotion of Nathula border trade.
emphasis on good relations
According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, the two sides agreed to further strengthen the mechanism of special representatives, enhance diplomatic and military dialogue coordination and cooperation, and follow up the implementation of decisions taken at the special representatives’ meeting for consultation and consultation on China-India border issues. Agreed on the need for the Working Mechanism for Coordination (WMCC) to work well. Both sides agreed to hold a new round of Special Representatives’ meeting in India next year and the specific time will be determined through diplomatic channels. Furthermore, the two sides exchanged broad and in-depth views on bilateral, international and regional issues of common concern, and underlined the importance of stable, predictable and good China-India relations for international and regional peace and stability.
According to a separate press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang said the leaders of the two countries stressed the importance of viewing China-India relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective and clarified the direction for the restoration and development of China-India relations at a critical moment. . The release said that if we look at the ups and downs of China-India relations over the past 70 years, the most valuable experience accumulated by both sides is adhering to the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries on bilateral relations, and having a true understanding of each other. Establish, follow the five principles of peaceful co-existence and properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation.
what happened on the border issue
Wang stressed that today’s special representative meeting is a timely and effective measure to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries. “This has been achieved through hard work and is worth cherishing.” According to the release, both sides should keep the border issue in its “appropriate place” in bilateral relations and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. And China-India relations should be encouraged to return to the path of healthy and stable development as soon as possible.
When was the last meeting?
Doval met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng after the talks. Han said that as ancient civilizations and emerging major powers, China and India are based on freedom, solidarity and cooperation, which have global influence and strategic significance. Doval, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived here on Tuesday to participate in the 23rd round of talks of Special Representatives after a gap of five years. The last meeting was held in Delhi in 2019.
How was the deadlock broken
These were the first substantive talks after relations remained at a standstill for more than four years due to the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which followed an agreement on disengagement of troops and patrolling on October 21. Following the agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia during the BRICS summit and endorsed the agreement. After the Modi-Xi meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil, which was followed by the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting on China-India border matters. The military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and was followed by a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June the same year, resulting in serious tensions in relations between the two neighbours. This mechanism of Special Representatives has held 22 meetings in the last few years to settle the dispute related to the 3488 km long border between India and China. This mechanism was formed in 2003.
