China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday, 25 August declared Beijing's willingness to work with New Delhi to 'eliminate differences' and achieve 'harmonious coexistence' between the two nations, as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Wang Yi held the 25th meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question in Beijing. The talks, described by both sides as 'comprehensive, in-depth, friendly, and candid,' mark a continued thaw in bilateral relations following years of border-driven tensions.

What Wang Yi Said

Wang Yi — China's Foreign Minister, Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission — framed the meeting in sweeping strategic terms. According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he stated: 'China and India are important neighbours and representatives of major developing countries and emerging economies. The healthy and stable development of China-India relations is in the fundamental interests of both peoples, meets the common aspirations of countries in the Global South, and aligns with the trend of the times.'

Wang Yi further noted that bilateral ties 'have transcended the bilateral scope and possess global and strategic significance,' pointing to the two meetings between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan and Tianjin as having 'charted the course for the improvement and development of bilateral relations.'

Doval's Position: Stable, Forward-Looking Ties

NSA Doval underscored the need for a 'stable, predictable, and forward-looking India-China relationship,' describing it as being in the common interest of both peoples and of 'great significance to Asia and the world.' He acknowledged that, under the guidance of both countries' leaders, bilateral ties 'have returned to the right track,' with border areas maintaining 'overall peace' and cooperation across various fields progressing steadily.

Key Outcomes of the Beijing Meeting

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, both sides held in-depth discussions on advancing border demarcation negotiations, strengthening border control, improving bilateral mechanisms, and promoting cross-border cooperation. The two sides agreed to 'properly handle the border issue through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility along the border.'

Significantly, both delegations agreed to hold the 26th meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question in India in 2027 — a concrete institutional signal of sustained engagement. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Context: A Relationship Rebuilding After Galwan

The meeting comes against the backdrop of a gradual but cautious diplomatic reset between the two Asian giants, following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes of June 2020 that had pushed ties to their lowest point in decades. Disengagement at key friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — including Depsang and Demchok — was completed in late 2024, paving the way for a resumption of high-level dialogue. The Modi-Xi meetings in Kazan and Tianjin were pivotal in restoring diplomatic momentum.

Notably, this is the first time the Special Representatives' meeting has been held since the border disengagement was formalised, lending the Beijing session added weight. With the next round scheduled for India in 2027, both sides appear committed to institutionalising the recovery — though the underlying boundary dispute, spanning thousands of kilometres of contested terrain, remains unresolved.