After a five-year pause, China and India have come together to discuss their longstanding border issues, reaching a significant six-point consensus. The 23rd meeting of the special representatives on the boundary question was held in Beijing on Wednesday, marking a hopeful step towards peace and cooperation between the two neighboring giants.
Both nations agreed to continue efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along their shared border. They emphasized the importance of developing a healthy and stable relationship, committing to seek fair and reasonable solutions acceptable to both sides based on political guiding principles established in 2005.
In a move to build trust, China and India will refine border management rules and enhance cross-border exchanges. Notably, they plan to promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims’ visits to China’s Xizang region. The two sides also agreed to strengthen the mechanisms that facilitate these high-level discussions, with the next meeting scheduled to take place in India next year.
Chinese special representative Wang Yi highlighted the importance of this meeting, following a recent significant consensus reached between the leaders of both countries in Russia’s Kazan. “We should look to the future and pursue win-win cooperation,” Wang said. “By placing the boundary question in the appropriate context of our bilateral relations, we can jointly maintain peace and promote a healthy and stable development track.”
India’s special representative, National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval, echoed these sentiments. “India and China have common interests and similar views. It’s necessary for us to coexist peacefully and develop together,” Doval stated. He emphasized the meaningful progress made in resolving border issues over the past five years and expressed India’s willingness to maintain effective communication with China.
Both countries underscored the importance of a stable and predictable relationship for international and regional peace. This meeting signifies a positive step forward in China-India relations, with hopes for continued collaboration and understanding between the nations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
