During a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval noted an “upward trend” in India-China relations, emphasizing that borders have been quiet and bilateral engagements have been increasingly substantive.
He credited the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan for setting a positive new direction.
Speaking at the 24th round of Special Representatives (SR) level talks, Doval expressed optimism that the ongoing discussions would be equally successful, especially ahead of PM Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi acknowledged that past setbacks were detrimental to both nations, referring to tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. Wang highlighted that the Kazan summit had provided strategic guidance for resolving the boundary question and improving bilateral relations. He stressed the importance of mutual trust, strategic communication, and cooperation to properly settle border issues and strengthen ties.
The SR dialogue mechanism, co-headed by Doval and Wang, continues to focus on the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) and broader cooperation between the two Asian neighbors.
