In a significant step toward improving India-China relations, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Wednesday during his visit to Beijing.
The meeting marked the 23rd round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the India-China border dispute, resuming after a five-year hiatus. The last round of talks was held in New Delhi in 2019.
During the meeting, Vice President Han Zheng emphasized the importance of gradually resuming institutional dialogues and fostering cooperation in areas like economy, trade, and culture to steer bilateral relations back to stable development. Highlighting the historical and strategic significance of both nations as ancient civilizations and emerging global powers, Han said their cooperation has far-reaching global implications.
Han also noted that 2025 will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India. He urged both nations to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, maintain momentum in high-level engagements, and rebuild political trust.
Ajit Doval described the resumption of SR talks as a crucial step in implementing the consensus reached by Indian and Chinese leaders. He reiterated India’s willingness to strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, and inject new momentum into bilateral ties.
The Special Representatives are expected to focus on maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border regions while exploring a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solution to the longstanding boundary dispute.
Tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh escalated in May 2020, culminating in a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June of that year. This strained relations between the two countries, with trade being one of the few areas of continued engagement.
The disengagement process from key friction points, including Demchok and Depsang, was completed in October 2023, marking a significant step toward de-escalation. The SR talks now represent the first structured engagement between the two nations aimed at rebuilding their relationship.
Established in 2003 to address the 3,488-kilometer-long border dispute, the SR mechanism has held 22 meetings over the years. While it has yet to resolve the boundary issue, officials view it as a valuable platform for managing recurring tensions and fostering dialogue.