Key Points

China and India have agreed to establish two specialized groups to handle border delimitation and management. The decision came after important discussions between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and NSA Ajit Doval. Ambassador Xu Feihong emphasized keeping border issues separate from overall bilateral relations. PM Modi's upcoming visit to China for the SCO Summit is seen as crucial for both countries.

Key Points: India China Set Up Two Border Groups After Wang Yi Doval Talks

  • Two new working groups for border delimitation and management established
  • Consensus reached on 10 points during Wang Yi-Doval talks
  • PM Modi accepted invitation to SCO Summit in China
  • Three traditional border trading markets agreed to reopen
4 min read

India, China to set up two groups on border issue, SRs held very important talks: Chinese envoy

China's envoy reveals two new border groups established after Wang Yi's India visit. Key talks with Doval & Jaishankar focused on delimitation and management.

"We should not define the border issue as relationship between our two countries - Ambassador Xu Feihong"

New Delhi, August 21

China's Ambassador to India Xu Feihong has said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had important discussions with NSA Ajit Doval during his visit to India earlier this week, and the two countries will set up two groups on the border issue.

He said one group will be for border delimitation into appropriate sectors, and the second group will focus on proper management of the border areas.

During his visit, Wang Yi co-chaired the 24th round of the Special Representatives' (SRs) dialogue on the Boundary Question between India and China with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on August 19 and held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar a day earlier. The Chinese Foreign Minister also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 19.

Xu Feihong said India and China should not define the border issue as the relationship between our two countries.

"This time, during the Chinese FM visit to India, he had a very important talk with Mr Doval on the boundary issue. They reached a consensus on 10 points. Two groups will be set up by our two sides over the border issue. One group will be for border delimitation into appropriate sectors. The second group will focus on proper management of the border areas....We should not define the border issue as relationship between our two countries. The border issue is on one side, and cooperation between India and China is on the other side," Xu Feihong told reporters.

The Chinese envoy also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to China for the SCO Summit.

"The visit of Prime Minister Modi to China will be a very important event not only for the SCO but for the bilateral relationship between the two countries. A working group from China and India are preparing to make this visit a successful one. We attach great importance to this visit," he said.

During his visit, Wang Yi handed over a message and an invitation from President Xi Jinping to the Prime Minister for the SCO Summit being held in Tianjin on August 31-September 1. PM Modi conveyed his acceptance.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Xu Feihong had highlighted ten points of consensus from the 24th Round of Talks Between the Special Representatives (SRs) of China and India on the boundary question.

He said that the two sides spoke positively of the progress made in the implementation of the important leader-level consensus in Kazan, and shared the view that peace and tranquility has been maintained in the China-India border areas since the 23rd Round of SR Talks.

"The two sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas, emphasized handling the issue properly through friendly consultations, to promote overall development of the China-India bilateral relationship," he said.

"Agreed on the need to take a political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for settlement of the boundary question in accordance with the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question signed in 2005," he added.

The Chinese Ambassador to India said the two sides agreed to set up an Expert Group, under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on the China-India border affairs (WMCC) framework, to explore Early Harvest of boundary delimitation on appropriate Sectors.

He said the two sides agreed to set up a Working Group, under the WMCC framework, to advance effective border management in order to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas."Agreed to create General-Level Mechanisms in the Eastern and Middle Sectors, in addition to the existing General-Level Mechanism in the Western Sector, and hold the next round of General-Level Mechanism meeting in the Western Sector at an early date," he said.

"Agreed to use the border management mechanisms at diplomatic and military levels to carry forward the process of border management, and discuss de-escalation, beginning with the principles and modalities thereof," he said.

Xu Feihong said the two sides exchanged views on trans-border rivers cooperation and agreed to give full play to the role of the China-India Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers and keep communication on the renewal of relevant MoUs.

The Chinese side agreed to share hydrological information during emergency situations based on humanitarian considerations.

"Agreed to re-open the three traditional border trading markets, namely Renqinggang-Changgu, Pulan-Gunji and Jiuba-Namgya. Agreed to hold the 25th Round of SR Talks in China in 2026," he said.

India and China also agreed to uphold multilateralism, enhance communication major international and regional issues, maintain a rules-based multilateral trading system with WTO at its core, and promote a multipolar world, that safeguards the interest of developing countries.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good step forward but we need to be cautious. China's track record on border agreements hasn't been great. Hope our government stays firm on protecting Indian interests.
A
Arjun K
Reopening border trading markets is a positive sign for local economies. Our border communities have suffered enough due to tensions. Hope this brings some economic relief to those areas.
M
Michael C
Interesting development. As an observer, it seems both countries are trying to compartmentalize the border issue while continuing other cooperation. Smart approach if it works.
S
Shreya B
Hope this isn't just another diplomatic exercise. We need concrete results, not just more talks. Our soldiers deserve permanent peace at the borders.
V
Vikram M
The hydrological information sharing during emergencies is a good confidence-building measure. Small steps matter in building trust between neighbors.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50