New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) India and China today stressed the importance of peace along the border and said stronger engagement between the two countries is in the long-term interest of ”Asia’s two largest neighbours.”
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who held talks here on the border issue, also noted the upward momentum in bilateral relations. The NSA noted the “upward momentum” in bilateral ties, highlighting peace and tranquillity along the borders since last year’s talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan. He underlined the role of both leaders in driving the engagement forward.
The Chinese Foreign Minister said “China is ready to build more consensus with India. We should properly settle specific issues at the borders and we should increase mutual trust through strategic communication,” he added.
The NSA also announced that Prime Minister Modi will travel to Beijing for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. “Our Prime Minister will be visiting for the SCO Summit shortly. Therefore, I think these high-level talks assume very special importance,” Doval said.
Doval also pointed out that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations. “It’s time to celebrate. With this new energy and momentum, and with the maturity and responsibility shown by our diplomatic teams, missions, and our armies on the borders, we have been able to achieve this progress,” he said.
“I’m very happy that since then, in the last nine months, there has been an upward trend. Borders have been quiet. There has been peace and tranquillity. Our bilateral engagements have been more substantial,” Doval added.
Referring to the last round of talks in Beijing, the NSA said that over the past nine months “there has been an upward trend” with quiet borders, peace and tranquillity, and more substantive bilateral engagements.
According to sources, India reiterated during the discussions that its position on Taiwan remains unchanged. “Like the rest of the world, India has a relationship with Taiwan that focuses on economic, technological, and cultural ties, and we intend to continue it.”
In his opening remarks during the delegation-level meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister said “the setbacks we faced in the last few years were not in our interest. PM Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan. We are happy to share that stability has now been restored at the borders. We welcome PM Modi’s visit to China for the SCO. History and reality prove that a healthy and stable relationship between India and China serves the long-term interests of both countries.”
Wang Yi further said “At the 23rd round of border talks in Beijing, we achieved new and important consensus on managing disagreements, stabilizing the borders and moving towards a settlement. India and China identified specific goals and formed a working framework.”
