India, China agree to restart Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, cross-border river cooperation, Nathula border trade

Beijing: The 23rd meeting of Special Representatives of India and China on Wednesday exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues. In this meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, measures to maintain peace and stability on the border were discussed. Along with this, a follow-up meeting was planned in India next year.

After the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives, India and China reaffirmed their commitment to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, cross-border riverine cooperation and resumption of Nathula border trade.

“On December 18, 2024, the 23rd meeting of special representatives on the China-India border question was held in Beijing,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release. This was the first meeting between the two sides in five years.”

The release said, “Based on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries at the Kazan meeting, the Chinese Special Representative, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi and the Indian Special Representative and “National Security Advisor Doval held concrete discussions on the China-India border issue in a positive and constructive manner and reached six consensuses.”

Both sides agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation and promote the resumption of pilgrimage of Indian pilgrims to Tibet, China, cross-border riverine cooperation and Nathula border trade.

The two sides also positively evaluated the settlement reached between the two countries on border issues, reiterated that implementation work should continue, and believed that the border issue should be properly handled from the overall situation of bilateral relations so as not to affect the development of bilateral relations. Cannot be done.

Both sides agreed to continue to take measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. India and China agreed to continue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue in accordance with the political guidelines agreed upon by the Special Representatives of the two countries in 2005 and to promote this process. to take positive measures for

Also confirmed his commitment. The Chinese Foreign Ministry further said that the two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine management and control rules in the border area, strengthen the construction of confidence-building measures, and achieve lasting peace and stability along the border. Expressed.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen the construction of the Special Representatives' Meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military dialogue, and the follow-up implementation of this Special Representatives' Meeting to the China-India Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC). Agreed on the need to complete.

The two nations also agreed to hold a new round of Special Representatives meetings in India next year, and the specific timing will be determined through diplomatic channels.

In addition, the two sides also had a wide-ranging and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, international and regional issues of common concern, stressing the importance of a stable, predictable and good China-India relationship for international and regional peace and stability. given.
It is noteworthy that Doval is in China and on Wednesday he participated in the 23rd meeting of Special Representatives of India and China with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which the border talks were held. The focus was on maintaining peace and stability.

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“The meeting of the Special Representatives was held in accordance with the decision taken during the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan to oversee the management of peace and stability in the border areas,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. And it was decided to meet as soon as possible to find a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.”

The Special Representatives also reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective on overall bilateral relations while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for the resolution of the boundary question and resolved to bring more vibrancy to the process.
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “Both Special Representatives underlined the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the border areas to promote the overall development of India-China bilateral relations.

He stressed the need to ensure peaceful situation on the ground, so that border issues do not hinder the normal development of bilateral relations. Learning from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and stability along the border and advance effective border management. They decided to use, coordinate and guide the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms for this purpose.”

The Special Representatives also exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and for cross-border cooperation and exchanges including resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, sharing of data on cross-border rivers and border trade. Gave positive directions. They also agreed on the importance of stable, predictable and cordial India-China relations for regional and global peace and prosperity.

NSA Doval also invited Wang Yi to visit India at a mutually convenient date to hold the next round of Special Representatives meeting. This was the first meeting of the Special Representatives since the standoff in the western sector of the India-China border areas in 2020. The Special Representatives positively confirmed the implementation of the latest disengagement agreement of October 2024, resulting in increased patrolling and grazing in the areas concerned.

(with agency input)