National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Tuesday, 25 August, ahead of the landmark 25th Round of Special Representatives' Talks on the India-China Boundary Question. The meeting focused on strengthening peace and tranquillity in the border areas and expanding bilateral cooperation across economic, political, and multilateral forums.

Doval's Beijing Visit

Doval, who serves as India's Special Representative on the India-China Boundary Question, arrived in Beijing on Monday, 24 August, on a two-day visit at the invitation of Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister and Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Wang Yi is China's designated Special Representative for the same boundary talks.

The Indian Embassy in Beijing confirmed the meeting in a post on X, stating: 'On 25 August, NSA and Special Representative on the India-China Boundary Question, Shri Ajit Doval called on H.E. Han Zheng, Vice President of the People's Republic of China.' The embassy added that the two sides 'discussed ways to strengthen peace and tranquillity in the border areas and further improve bilateral relations across economic, political and multilateral fora, in accordance with the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries.'

What China Said

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a regular media briefing in Beijing on Monday, described the Special Representatives' Meeting as 'the main channel for border negotiations between the two countries and an important platform for communication on issues of mutual concern.' He noted that the 24th round, held last August, had resulted in 'several consensuses' following 'frank and in-depth' exchanges.

Lin Jian indicated that both sides would 'continue in-depth communication on the border issue in accordance with the spirit of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border areas,' while also exchanging views on broader bilateral and regional matters.

India's Consistent Position

New Delhi has long maintained that the state of the border directly determines the health of the wider bilateral relationship. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated this stance earlier in August, saying: 'In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious and that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in these areas is of the utmost importance.'

Recent Diplomatic Groundwork

The Beijing talks build on a series of recent engagements. On 6 August, the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting on India-China border affairs saw both sides hold 'frank discussions' and review the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Jaiswal had stated that India again underlined that 'maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,' and that both sides agreed to continue using existing mechanisms — including the WMCC, local commander-level meetings, and other agreed channels — to resolve outstanding issues and prevent miscalculation along the LAC.

What Comes Next

The outcome of the 25th Special Representatives' round is being closely watched as a barometer for whether the diplomatic reset between the two countries, initiated at the leadership level, can translate into durable ground-level arrangements. Any agreed framework on patrolling rights or buffer zone management along the LAC would mark a significant step forward in normalising ties that deteriorated sharply after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.