Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval agreed to work towards improving bilateral relations during their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The talks took place on the sidelines of a BRICS meeting of high-ranking security officials.
Both officials, who serve as special representatives for border negotiations between India and China, reviewed recent progress in addressing border issues. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the two sides reaffirmed the importance of stabilising their relations for the long-term benefit of both nations and regional peace and development.
China and India pledged to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, strengthen mutual understanding, and maintain continuous communication to foster conditions for improved bilateral ties.
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Wang Yi emphasised that, in a turbulent world, China and India, as two ancient civilizations and rising developing nations, should prioritise unity and cooperation rather than conflict. He expressed hope that both countries would manage their differences pragmatically and push their relations toward stable and sustainable development, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a separate press release that India and China agreed to work with “urgency” to achieve full disengagement from the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
Doval conveyed to Wang that peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were essential for normalising ties. The talks were an opportunity to review recent efforts to resolve outstanding border issues, which have kept the two nations’ militaries in a standoff since May 2020.
Both sides acknowledged the global significance of the India-China relationship and agreed to redouble efforts to achieve disengagement and maintain peace along the border, the MEA noted.
The Doval-Wang meeting followed two weeks after diplomatic talks between the countries, where they agreed to intensify communication through both military and diplomatic channels to find a solution to the ongoing border dispute.
Earlier, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that roughly 75% of the disengagement issues with China had been resolved, although concerns remained over increased militarisation along the frontier.
The June 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, the most serious military conflict between India and China in decades, led to a significant downturn in bilateral ties. Despite some disengagement at various friction points, both sides have yet to achieve a full resolution. The two nations have held 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to address the border standoff.
India maintains that peace along the border is essential for normalising relations with China.
75 per cent of disengagement problems ‘sorted out’ with China: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted significant progress in India-China border talks, stating that “75% of disengagement problems are sorted out,” but acknowledged that “some issues remain.”
Speaking at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Jaishankar emphasised that India and China have never had an easy relationship, referencing the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and the Chinese violation of multiple agreements by moving troops to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
While progress has been made, Jaishankar stressed that full disengagement is necessary for peace and stability before other aspects of the relationship can improve. He described India-China relations as “complex,” pointing to historical tensions and the imbalance in their economic relationship. He noted China’s better market access in India and expressed concerns over trade, technology, telecom, and digital sectors.
Jaishankar’s comments followed the 31st WMCC meeting in Beijing, where both sides agreed to uphold peace along the LAC and intensify communication through diplomatic and military channels.
