India and China reach six-point consensus to address border issues. Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage expected to start soon

India, China aim for mutually acceptable settlement of boundary issue

India and China reached a six-point consensus to address border issues during talks between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday. The 23rd round of the Special Representatives’ talks between the two countries was held today after a gap of five years. According to diplomats from both sides, in general, the countries should gradually resume institutional dialogue as well as exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, and culture to bring bilateral relations back onto the track of stable development.

According to the official Chinese state media Xinhua, Doval said the resumption of the meeting between Special Representatives of both countries for the boundary question after five years is an important move to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and is of great significance for advancing bilateral relations. India is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, Doval was quoted as saying.

The military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and was followed by a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June of that year resulting in a severe strain in ties between the two neighbours. Barring trade, relations between the two countries virtually came to a standstill. The face-off effectively ended following the completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalized on October 21.

Six consensus points at the meeting on the border issue

1. Both sides positively evaluated the solution reached between the two countries on border issues, reiterated that the implementation work should continue, and believed that the border issue should be properly handled from the overall situation of bilateral relations so as not to affect the development of bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to continue to take measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
2. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue seeking a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue in accordance with the political guidelines agreed upon by the special representatives of the two countries on resolving the boundary issue in 2005, and to take positive measures to promote this process.
3. The two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine the management and control rules in the border area, strengthen the building of confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and tranquility on the border.
4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims’ pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation, and Nathula border trade(regarding Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage expected to be open soon).
5. The two sides agreed to further strengthen the construction of the special representatives’ meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations, and require the China-India Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) to carry out follow-up implementation of this special representatives’ meeting.
6. The two sides agreed to hold a new round of special representatives’ meetings in India next year, and the specific time will be determined through diplomatic channels.

In addition, the two sides also had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, international, and regional issues of common concern, emphasizing the importance of a stable, predictable, and good China-India relationship to international and regional peace and stability.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post India and China reach six-point consensus to address border issues. Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage expected to start soon appeared first on PGurus.