New Delhi : Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met India’s Special Representative for the boundary question and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval ahead of the 25th round of talks between the Special Representatives of India and China on the boundary question in Beijing.
According to Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, the meeting focused on the broader trajectory of China-India relations and the need to build on the understanding reached by the leadership of the two countries.
According to Chinese Ambassador to India, VP Han Zheng noted that over the past two years, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have met twice, in Kazan and Tianjin, where they reached a series of important understandings on the future development of bilateral relations.
According to the Chinese side, these high-level engagements have helped put China-India relations back on a path of recovery and improvement following a period of heightened tensions.
China calls for strategic approach to bilateral ties
The Chinese VP, Han Zheng said that as neighbouring major developing countries and key emerging economies, China and India should approach their relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective.
He called for both countries to work towards implementing the important understandings reached by their leaders, while strengthening strategic mutual trust, expanding areas of cooperation and improving multilateral coordination.
The Chinese Vice President also stressed the importance of properly managing differences between the two countries and maintaining the momentum towards the sustained and stable development of bilateral relations.
Boundary issue remains central to India-China engagement
The meeting took place ahead of the latest round of talks between Ajit Doval and Chinese Special Representative Wang Yi, who is also China’s Foreign Minister, on the long-standing boundary question.
The Special Representatives’ mechanism remains an important channel for addressing the boundary issue and maintaining communication between the two sides.
India and China have been working in recent months to stabilise bilateral relations through diplomatic and military-level engagement, including efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
At the same time, both sides continue to face differences on the boundary question and other strategic issues.
Focus on rebuilding ties
The latest high-level engagement reflects the efforts by Beijing and New Delhi to gradually rebuild mutual trust and expand engagement after years of tensions along the border.
China has emphasised greater economic and diplomatic cooperation, while India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.
Han Zheng’s remarks indicate Beijing’s emphasis on taking a longer-term view of the relationship, expanding areas of common interest and ensuring that differences do not derail broader cooperation.
The talks involving Doval are therefore expected to remain significant not only for the boundary question, but also for the wider effort to stabilise and reshape India-China relations.