New Delhi: Amid tensions at the border in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Tuesday underlined that Beijing aims to be a “good, friendly neighbour and a partner” to India during the 25th meeting of the Special Representative mechanism in the Chinese capital. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is leading the Indian delegation.
Wang, who is also China’s Special Representative on the Boundary Question, said the relationship between the two countries has “transcended the bilateral scope and possesses global and strategic significance”.
“Both sides are making orderly progress in implementing the consensus reached at the Special Representatives’ meetings. Institutional exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are gradually resuming, and both sides are jointly committed to maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas,” noted the Chinese foreign minister.
The Chinese readout added: “The two sides should draw upon historical experience, place the boundary question in its proper context within the overall bilateral relationship, and move forward steadily—without stagnation, regression, or deviation from the course. They should work to build a positive narrative regarding China-India boundary affairs, making dialogue, peace, consultation, and cooperation the mainstream, thereby injecting positive momentum into the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.”
The 25th meeting of the Special Representative mechanism on the boundary question comes ahead of potential meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit next week in Kyrgyzstan and the BRICS Summit hosted in New Delhi in the middle of September.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a readout of the meeting. However, the Chinese readout highlighted that Doval underlined that India and China “are partners rather than rivals”.
“Under the guidance of the two countries’ leaders, India-China relations have returned to the right track; general tranquility has been maintained in border areas, and exchanges and cooperation across various fields are advancing steadily,” the Chinese readout noted as Doval’s statements during the meeting.
It added: “India is willing to further strengthen strategic communication with China, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen multilateral collaboration, effectively manage border areas, explore solutions to the boundary question, and accelerate the improvement and development of India-China relations.”
The meeting between the two is significant as just last month, the Indian and Chinese militaries faced-off in the remote Taksing village in Arunachal Pradesh. The face-off between the two patrolling parties, raised tensions along the border in India’s Northeast.
India and China’s ties cratered in 2020 when the two militaries clashed in Eastern Ladakh. It was only in October 2024 that both countries were able to come to an agreement to disengage at the friction points in Eastern Ladakh. While the situation remains calm in Eastern Ladakh, tensions have risen in India’s Northeast.
“The two sides held in-depth discussions on advancing boundary negotiations, strengthening border management, improving institutional mechanisms, and promoting cross-border cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to seeking a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary question, in accordance with the political guiding principles reached in 2005 and in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding, while leveraging the mechanism of Special Representative meetings,” said the Chinese readout.
It added: “Both sides agreed to continue handling boundary issues properly through dialogue and consultation and to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. It was agreed that the 26th Meeting of Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question would be held in India in 2027.
Doval called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng earlier Tuesday ahead of the Special Representative talks.
“NSA and VP Han discussed ways to strengthen peace & tranquility in the border areas and further improve bilateral relations across economic, political and multilateral fora, in accordance with the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries,” the Embassy of India in Beijing said in a statement on X.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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