China and India Hold 23rd Meeting on Boundary Question in Beijing

The 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question was held in Beijing, marking the first such dialogue in five years.

The meeting, based on the consensus reached by the leaders of the two nations during the Kazan meeting, brought together Chinese Special Representative Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, and Indian Special Representative Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor.

The discussions were described as positive and constructive, with both sides reaching six key consensuses aimed at addressing the boundary issue and fostering stable bilateral relations.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to resolving border issues in alignment with overall bilateral relations, agreeing to continue measures to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas.

Fair Boundary Solution: The two nations reaffirmed their pursuit of a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue, following the 2005 political guidelines established by the Special Representatives.

Both sides assessed the border situation and agreed to refine management rules, strengthen confidence-building measures, and ensure lasting peace and stability.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Ajit Doval, India’s national security adviser and special representative for the India-China boundary question, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei/RSS)

Agreements were made to strengthen cross-border exchanges, resume Indian pilgrims’ visits to Tibet, enhance cross-border river cooperation, and reinvigorate trade through the Nathula Pass.

Both sides agreed to enhance the functioning of the Special Representatives’ meeting mechanism, improve coordination in diplomatic and military negotiations, and mandate the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) to follow up on the meeting’s outcomes.

The two countries agreed to convene the next Special Representatives’ meeting in India in 2025, with specific dates to be determined through diplomatic channels.

In addition to the boundary issue, the representatives exchanged views on bilateral, international, and regional matters of shared interest. Both sides emphasized the importance of a stable and predictable China-India relationship for ensuring peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

This meeting is seen as a step toward fostering cooperation and addressing longstanding differences, reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to peaceful dialogue and mutual development.

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