NSA Ajit Doval Meets Chinese FM Wang Yi in New Delhi for Fresh Round of Border Talks
New Delhi, Aug 19 (TheTrendingPeople) – National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, marking a fresh round of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the long-standing boundary question between India and China. The high-level meeting comes amid continuing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and efforts from both sides to restore normalcy in bilateral ties.
Wang Yi, who arrived in India late Monday on a two-day visit, first met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday evening before the crucial dialogue with NSA Doval. His visit marks the 24th round of SR-level talks on the boundary question, a mechanism established in 2003 to address differences over the unresolved border dispute.
Historical Context: India-China Border Standoff
India and China share a 3,488 km-long disputed boundary, and tensions have flared repeatedly over the decades, most recently in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in June 2020, where a violent clash left soldiers dead on both sides. Since then, several rounds of diplomatic and military-level negotiations have taken place, but complete disengagement has not been achieved in all friction points.
The SR dialogue mechanism—represented by India’s NSA Ajit Doval and China’s State Councilor—has been central to managing the boundary question and preventing escalation. The latest meeting is viewed as a significant attempt to stabilize relations, particularly ahead of multilateral engagements like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit scheduled in Tianjin at the end of August, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping are expected to participate.
Wang Yi’s Visit: China Signals Willingness for Cooperation
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang Yi’s visit is aimed at helping both countries implement the consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
At Monday’s regular media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, “China is willing to take the opportunity of Wang’s visit to India to work together with the Indian side in implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, properly manage differences, and promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-India relations.”
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong echoed these remarks on social media platform X, underlining that the visit was meant to “stabilize ties and advance cooperation.”
EAM Jaishankar’s Firm Message: Peace at Borders Is Essential
Before the Doval-Wang meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set the tone by emphasizing that border peace remains the foundation for progress in India-China ties.
In his opening remarks during talks with Wang Yi, Jaishankar said, “The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward.”
Highlighting the broader agenda, the EAM noted that discussions would cover economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, people-to-people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity, and bilateral exchanges. He also stressed the importance of the **three mutuals—mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest—**as guiding principles in navigating challenges.
“Differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict,” he added, making India’s position clear that while dialogue is welcome, tangible de-escalation at the border remains non-negotiable.
Strategic and Economic Implications
The talks are significant not only for bilateral relations but also for their potential impact on regional and global geopolitics. Both India and China are key players in Asia and share deep economic linkages despite ongoing tensions.
Trade between the two nations crossed $136 billion in 2023, with India’s trade deficit with China widening. The resumption of direct flight services, suspended during the pandemic, is also expected to be discussed during this visit, potentially boosting business and people-to-people exchanges.
Furthermore, with global economic instability, cooperation between the world’s two most populous nations could provide much-needed stability in Asia. Both sides also discussed multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework and the imperative to work together on issues like terrorism and climate change.
Challenges Ahead: Trust Deficit Remains
Despite the positive optics, deep mistrust continues to shadow India-China relations. While both sides have disengaged in certain areas of Ladakh, friction points remain, particularly in Depsang and Demchok.
Analysts point out that without verifiable progress on the ground, talks may yield limited results. The Indian side remains cautious, insisting that normalization in other areas of bilateral relations cannot advance unless peace at the borders is restored.
Outlook: Can Dialogue Build Momentum?
The Doval-Wang Yi meeting is expected to send a political signal of continued engagement at the highest levels. Whether this translates into concrete steps on the ground remains to be seen.
As EAM Jaishankar highlighted, India seeks a “fair, balanced, and multipolar world order, including a multipolar Asia.” For this, stable ties with China are essential—but not at the cost of compromising national security.
My Final Thoughts behalf of TheTrendingPeople.com
The latest round of border talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reflects both the complexity and necessity of India-China engagement. With tensions simmering since 2020, dialogue remains the only viable pathway to restoring trust and stability.
However, India’s stance remains firm—border peace is the prerequisite for broader cooperation. Until tangible progress is seen on de-escalation and disengagement, India is unlikely to alter its cautious approach.
For now, Wang Yi’s visit represents a diplomatic opening, but the true test will lie in implementation on the ground and the ability of both sides to turn dialogue into durable peace.