India and China Engage in 'Positive & Constructive' Diplomatic Talks on Border Management Before Wang Yi-Doval Meeting

India and China held a fresh round of diplomatic talks in Beijing on Tuesday, focusing on improving border management and resuming cross-border cooperation, including on trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

NSA Ajit Doval and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Source: File.

During the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting, the two sides discussed how to implement the outcomes of the December discussions between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that both countries also agreed to make "substantial preparations" for the next SR meeting, which will take place in India later this year.

The MEA described the meeting as having taken place in a "positive and constructive" atmosphere, with both sides conducting a thorough review of the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas.

The MEA emphasized that maintaining peace and stability along the border is crucial for the smooth development of overall bilateral relations.

It is reported that both sides also discussed the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, where each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops stationed.

Doval's Visit to Beijing

In December, Doval traveled to Beijing for discussions with Foreign Minister Wang as part of the SR dialogue on the boundary issue.

The decision to reinstate the SR mechanism and similar dialogue formats was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23.

During the WMCC talks, both sides agreed to "collaborate in making substantial preparations" for the upcoming SR meeting, which is scheduled to take place in India later this year, according to the MEA.

“Held in a positive and constructive atmosphere, the meeting comprehensively reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas,” it said.

“The two sides explored various measures and proposals to implement the decisions taken during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management,” it added.

“The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end,” the MEA said.

It was also noted that both parties discussed the “early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.”

The Indian delegation at the talks was headed by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The leader of the Indian delegation also had a meeting with Hong Lei, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister.

The WMCC meeting occurred two months after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's two-day visit to Beijing, where he held discussions with his Chinese counterpart.

India has consistently emphasized that normalizing relations with China is impossible without peace in the border regions.

Following the completion of disengagement in Demchok and Depsang, both the Indian and Chinese military resumed patrolling these areas after nearly four and a half years.

(This Article was originally published by First Post)