New Delhi: In a major diplomatic breakthrough, India and China have agreed to work towards an early settlement of the boundary delimitation issue, marking the first significant step to reset bilateral ties since the 2020 Galwan clash.
The announcement followed a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two sides decided to establish an Expert Group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) to explore “early harvest” solutions to boundary delimitation.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas as a prerequisite for improving overall bilateral relations. The sides reaffirmed their commitment to a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework” for boundary settlement, based on the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles.
The 24th round of Special Representatives dialogue, led by NSA Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, reviewed progress since the last round in Kazan. Both sides noted that relative calm had been maintained along the border and agreed to expand mechanisms for managing tensions:
• A new working group on effective border management will be created under WMCC.
• General Level Mechanisms will be established in the Eastern and Middle Sectors, in addition to the existing one in the Western Sector.
• De-escalation measures will continue to be discussed.
In parallel, India and China agreed on several initiatives to rebuild trust:
• Direct flights between the two countries will resume at the earliest.
• Pilgrimages from India to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar will be expanded.
• Border trade through Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La, and Nathu La will be reopened.
• Steps will be taken to facilitate trade and investment flows through concrete measures.
China welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. India, in turn, reaffirmed its support for China’s SCO presidency and both sides pledged to cooperate on future diplomatic events, including the 2026 BRICS Summit in India and the 2027 BRICS Summit in China.
The thaw in relations comes against the backdrop of strained global geopolitics, including new US tariffs on India and Washington’s confrontation with Beijing over trade. For India and China, the latest round of talks signals an attempt to reframe ties on a stable, cooperative, and forward-looking basis after years of tension.
