The meeting of the Special representatives of India and China- National Security Adviser (NSA) and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have been described as fruitful and positive.
The two Special Representatives met after a gap of five years. Talks had been halted following a major incursion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and also the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash in which soldiers of both sides died.
The meeting was possible thanks to the bilateral between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit held in Kazan last month.
Pilgrimage to resume
While several issues relating to trade and the border issue were discussed by both sides, it was also agreed that the pilgrimage to Kailash-Mansarovar should be resumed.
During the meeting both Bharat and China decided to promote the resumption of the Indian pilgrims’ pilgrimage, Kailash-Manasrovar Yatra.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India’s government conducts the Yatra between June and September through the two official routes of Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. The Yatra has not taken place since 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-10 and the subsequent non-renewal of Yatra arrangements by the Chinese side, the MEA had said.
Further, the Ministry added that the government of India has taken up the issue of resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra with Chinese authorities in its diplomatic engagements. Most recently, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit on 18 November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro. The resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra was discussed in the meeting. The government will continue to take up this issue in its contacts with Chinese authorities, the Ministry said in the Lok Sabha.
Maintaining political perspective
Doval and Wang Yi reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair and reasonable, and mutually acceptable framework for the settlement of the boundary question. They also resolved to inject more vitality into this process.
The Special Representatives underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas and positively affirmed the implementation of the latest disengagement in Demchok and Depsang in October, which resulted in patrolling and grazing in relevant areas.
Wang Yi and Doval emphasised the need to ensure peaceful conditions on the ground so that the issues on the border do not hold back the normal development of bilateral relations.
“Drawing on the learnings from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border and advance effective border management. They decided to use, coordinate and guide the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this purpose,” a statement read.
The Indian readout said, ‘drawing on the learnings from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border and advance effective border management. They decided to use, coordinate and guide the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this purpose.’
Doval, who also met with Chinese vice president Han Zheng invited Wang Yi to New Delhi to hold the next round of Special Representative talks n 2025.
A good start
The talks are a good start to iron out all differences and ensure better cooperation. China watchers say that Bharat will now continue to focus on de-escalation and effective management of border activities.
The meeting is not just important in terms of ties between the two nations but is also significant considering the happenings across the world and a change in world order following the election of Donald Trump. In the wake of all these developments, both sides felt it was important to maintain normal ties and iron out all the differences.
While the developments following the talks are encouraging, there is still a long way to go before all differences are ironed out. However, for now, this is a good start, and it is important that peace is maintained along the LAC to ensure that there are no hiccups in further talks and engagements.
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