Setbacks of last few years not in our interest: Wang Yi at meeting with Ajit Doval

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that the recent losses between China and India were not beneficial to either nation’s citizens.

“The October 2024 meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan has given direction for the development of bilateral relations and given fresh impetus to efforts at resolving boundary issues,” he said in remarks made in New Delhi during the 24th round of Special Representative Level Talks on the boundary question.

Wang said the 23rd round of talks last year had led to new consensus on managing disagreements, stabilising the borders, and moving towards a settlement.

“We identified specific goals and formed a working framework. We are heartened to see the stability that is now restored on the borders,” he told National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, adding that the current phase presents “an important opportunity of improvement and growth” for bilateral ties.

The Chinese minister underlined Beijing’s expectations from the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. “The Chinese side attaches great importance to the Prime Minister’s visit to China to attend the SCO summit at our invitation. We believe that the Indian side will also make contribution to a successful summit in Tianjin,” he said, emphasising that a healthy and stable relationship was in the long-term interests of both countries and welcomed by the developing world.

He urged both parties to adhere to the “strategic guidance” of their leaders, develop areas of collaboration, improve communication between them, and seek to appropriately resolve boundary disputes.

“Just now we had in-depth and detailed communication in the small group meeting. At the large group meeting, I am ready to work with you to build more consensus and identify the direction, the specific goals of the next boundary consultations going forward,” Wang added.

NSA Ajit Doval, welcoming Wang Yi in Delhi, said there had been “an upward trend” in bilateral engagements in recent months. “Borders have been quiet. There has been peace and tranquillity. Our bilateral engagements have been more substantial. And we are most grateful to our leaders who, in Kazan last October, were able to set a new trend, and we have profited a lot since then,” he said.

Doval stressed the importance of the current round of talks, pointing to Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit for the SCO summit. “I’m very hopeful that, like the last one, this 24th Special Representative Level Talks will be equally successful,” he said.

He added that the discussions took place as China and India celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties.

“It’s time to celebrate. And we find that with this new energy and the new momentum, with your personal efforts and with the maturity and the sense of responsibility of our diplomatic teams and our armies on the borders, we have been able to make it this time,” Doval said.