Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India on Tuesday told China that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control are essential for the continued progress of bilateral ties, as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held boundary talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The two sides focused on the boundary question, ways to sustain trans-boundary cooperation, and broader bilateral issues.
The talks, held under the Special Representatives mechanism, came as India and China continue efforts to rebuild relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. They were also held weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anticipated visit to India for the BRICS summit.
advertisement
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said Doval and Wang had a “candid and in-depth” exchange of views on the boundary issue. “Under the strategic guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, and in a constructive and forward-looking spirit, the two Special Representatives had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the India-China boundary question and agreed to continue their work in seeking a political settlement of the boundary question in the context of their overall and long-term interests,” the MEA said. It also said, “The Indian side highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas for the continued development and progress of the bilateral relationship.”
The Indian embassy in Beijing said the two sides “positively reviewed” the ongoing momentum in ties in line with the vision of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi. “They discussed ways to further expand bilateral cooperation, maintain stability and ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, and make progress on boundary delimitation, while sustaining the ongoing work on transboundary cooperation,” it said. The MEA also said the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Doval arrived in Beijing on Monday on a two-day visit for the 25th round of the Special Representatives talks. The dialogue took place amid reports of aggressive military posturing by Chinese troops along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri region. In his opening remarks, Doval said, “I am very happy we are here for the 25th round of talks which are very important, particularly in the wake of the BRICS summit to happen shortly.” He added, “We meet in keeping with the guidance of our leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, who have given clear and positive direction to our relationship both at Kazan and Tianjin,” referring to the leaders’ meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia in 2024 and the SCO summit in China last year.
Referring to the progress in normalising ties after the eastern Ladakh military standoff, Doval said the relationship had been steadily returning to normalcy. “The normalcy we have witnessed in our relationship has been a direct result of both sides maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” he said. He added, “We have extensively talked about it today just to see how to effectively reinforce and further consolidate our efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.” His remarks came against the backdrop of continuing differences over the boundary and Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as South Tibet.
Doval also referred to steps taken to improve people-to-people ties. “The successful conduct of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La and resumption of our traditional border trade via all the three passes brought tangible benefits for our people, particularly people living in the border areas,” he said.
Wang said the China-India relationship had gone beyond the bilateral framework and now carried global and strategic significance. “It is important for us to step up communication, to enhance mutual trust, to remove disturbances and overcome obstacles. We need to be good friends that enjoy good neighbourliness and be good partners that contribute to each other’s success,” he said. He added, “I look forward to continuing to have in-depth exchange of views with you on issues of shared interest to better understand each other and to properly handle the boundary question, to not only maintain peace and tranquillity in the border area but also inject new impetus for the bilateral relationship.” Wang also said the two sides had remained in regular contact through diplomatic and military channels on boundary affairs while implementing the guidance of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi.
Doval and Wang are the designated Special Representatives for the boundary talks mechanism set up in 2003 to address the 3,488-km India-China boundary dispute. Though the mechanism has not resolved the dispute, the latest round underlined both sides’ stated focus on keeping the border peaceful while carrying forward efforts towards a political settlement and broader engagement.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
