Ajit Doval Meets Wang Yi in Beijing to Reset India-China Relations
India and China have taken another crucial step towards restoring stability in their bilateral relations. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday. This pivotal meeting is the first high-level Special Representative (SR) talks between the two nations since December 2019. It focuses on de-escalation and resolution of the India-China boundary dispute.
The talks were initiated after an agreement on October 21 to disengage troops in eastern Ladakh. They hold significance because of tensions that have lingered since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Beijing is committed to working with India. The goal is to bring bilateral relations back to a track of stable and healthy development soon.
The discussions began at 10 AM local time. Both sides aimed to implement the understanding reached during the October meeting. This meeting was between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia. The leaders had earlier endorsed patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They also agreed on disengagement in key areas like Demchok and Depsang. These actions signal efforts to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that the meeting would focus on managing peace in the border areas. Tranquillity in these regions is also a key topic. They also plan to explore “a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution” to the boundary question. Constituted in 2003, the SR mechanism has been instrumental in addressing tensions across the 3,488-km-long border, with 22 meetings held to date.
Progress on resolving the border dispute remains elusive. Both nations view the SR mechanism as vital for managing recurring tensions. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has highlighted that while full disengagement has been achieved in eastern Ladakh, de-escalation remains a priority.
This meeting could mark a turning point in India-China relations, with hopes of reducing hostilities and strengthening mutual trust. The resumption of patrolling activities along the LAC after a four-year hiatus shows both countries’ intent to normalize ties. It also highlights their aim to prioritize regional stability.
