India, China Agree To Step Up Boundary Delimitation Talks, Strengthen Border Management

New Delhi, Aug 27 (KNN) India and China have agreed to advance negotiations on an ‘Early and Substantial Harvest’ of boundary delimitation and strengthen military communication mechanisms to help prevent incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from escalating.

The understanding was reached during the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks on the India-China boundary question in Beijing, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two sides outlined eight areas of consensus following the meeting.

New Mechanisms for Border Management

The Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation and the Working Group on Border Management, functioning under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), will take forward discussions on boundary delimitation and border management. Their initial task will be to finalise their respective terms of reference.

India and China also agreed to add two meeting points for generals and senior military commanders and establish two additional military hotline channels in the eastern and middle sectors of the LAC.

Both sides agreed that incidents on the ground should be addressed promptly through existing diplomatic and military channels, including the WMCC and local commander-level meetings, to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations.

Focus on Stability Along the Border

The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas and creating conditions for the stable development of bilateral relations.

The discussions come as the two sides continue efforts to stabilise ties following the October 2024 understanding that helped ease the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are important for the broader relationship.

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary dispute, guided by the 2005 agreement on political parameters and principles.

Cooperation on Rivers, Trade and Pilgrimage

India and China agreed to hold the next meeting of their Expert-Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers in September and continue discussions on hydrological data sharing and renewal of relevant agreements.

The two sides welcomed the reopening of three designated border trade points and agreed to strengthen cooperation in border trade and pilgrimage. India also appreciated China's efforts to increase the number of batches for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

The two sides agreed to hold the 26th round of Special Representatives’ talks in India in 2027. 

(KNN Bureau)