Ajit Doval Engages in Discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Today in Beijing
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Beijing, Dec 18 (NationPress) India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived on Tuesday to engage in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This meeting is part of the India-China Special Representatives dialogue scheduled for Wednesday, which aims to mend bilateral relations that have been stagnant for over four years due to the military conflict in eastern Ladakh.
NSA Doval is set to participate in the 23rd round of the Special Representatives' (SR) talks with Wang Yi, where a variety of topics will be addressed to rejuvenate the diplomatic relationship following the October 21 agreement concerning disengagement and patrolling in eastern Ladakh.
Prior to these critical discussions, China announced its readiness to collaborate with India in executing the commitments based on the mutual understandings established between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on October 24.
In response to questions regarding the SR talks, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, conveyed during a media briefing that China is prepared to resolve differences with genuine intentions.
"China is ready to collaborate with India to implement the crucial common understandings between the leaders of both nations, respect each other's core interests and primary concerns, enhance mutual trust through ongoing dialogue and communication, address differences with sincerity and goodwill, and expedite the return of bilateral relations to a path of stable and healthy development," he stated.
The External Affairs Ministry indicated on Monday that, as agreed during the meeting in Kazan on October 23, the two Special Representatives will deliberate on maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas and seek a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary issues.
Following the meeting between PM Modi and Xi, which marked their first interaction in five years, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart also convened on the margins of the G20 summit in Brazil, succeeded by a session of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC).
The military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh started in May 2020 and was exacerbated by a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in June of the same year, leading to significant tensions between the two nations.
Aside from trade, relations between the two countries came to a near standstill.
The confrontation effectively concluded with the completion of the disengagement process at the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang, as per an agreement finalized on October 21.
Wednesday's SRs meeting is deemed crucial as it represents the first structured engagement aimed at restoring relations.
This SRs meeting occurs after a five-year hiatus, with the last meeting conducted in 2019 in Delhi.
Established in 2003 to comprehensively tackle the complex dispute of the India-China border spanning 3,488 km, the SRs mechanism has convened 22 times over the years.
While achieving resolution of the boundary dispute has remained elusive, officials on both sides consider it a promising, effective, and valuable tool for managing recurring tensions.
