China has announced that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have reached a “six-point consensus” to address the longstanding India-China boundary issue. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has not confirmed or denied this claim, signaling potential discrepancies in the outcomes of the Beijing meeting.
According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, both sides positively evaluated progress on border-related issues and reaffirmed commitments to a “mutually acceptable package solution” based on the 2005 agreement. Key points reportedly discussed include:
•Refining border management rules.
•Strengthening confidence-building measures.
•Promoting cross-border communication and cooperation.
•Resuming pilgrimages to Xizang (Tibet).
•Enhancing cooperation on cross-border rivers and trade at Nathu La Pass.
China emphasized maintaining sustainable peace along the border and tying border management to the broader bilateral relationship.
The MEA’s statement was notably more restrained. While acknowledging the talks, it refrained from mentioning any consensus or specific agreements. The statement stressed maintaining a political perspective in resolving the boundary issue and expressed hope to “inject more vitality” into the process.
Sources clarified that the Chinese readout was not a joint statement, suggesting India may not fully endorse the claimed agreements. Joint statements typically follow mutual approval of discussed points.
This meeting, part of the 23rd round of Special Representatives’ talks, marked the first high-level engagement on border issues since 2019. The discussions were initiated following a bilateral agreement in October 2024 to disengage at specific friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Doval-Wang meeting follows the August 2024 interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, where both leaders agreed to restart border discussions.
China’s reference to the 2005 agreement remains vague. This agreement is believed to involve guiding principles for a peaceful resolution of the boundary dispute, though its specifics were not elaborated upon in either side’s statements.
As China pushes for normalizing commercial ties and enhancing bilateral cooperation, India appears cautious. The silence on the six-point consensus reflects hesitance to accept terms that might undermine India’s position on border sovereignty.
While China is optimistic about the outcomes, India’s measured response indicates lingering challenges in achieving a truly mutually acceptable solution to the border dispute.
