Wang Yi in India for border talks: China hopes to build trust, discuss 'issues of mutual interest'

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi - File Photo

China on Monday said Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi is aimed at advancing key agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries and building momentum in long-stalled boundary negotiations.

Wang arrived in India for a two-day trip to take part in the 24th round of Special Representatives (SRs) talks on the border issue with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The SR-level talks are the highest channel of dialogue between India and China on the boundary question.

Doval had visited Beijing in December for the 23rd round of talks, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October last year, where they decided to revive multiple dialogue mechanisms.

Through Wang’s visit, China hopes to “work with India to deliver on the important common understandings reached between the leaders, maintain high-level exchanges, enhance political trust, promote practical cooperation, properly handle differences, and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-India relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

She underlined that the SR-level talks are a “constructive and positive mechanism” for both sides to address boundary differences. “During the 23rd round of talks in Beijing, the two sides reached several common understandings on delimitation, negotiation, border management mechanism, cross-border exchanges and cooperation,” Mao said.

“Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained communication through diplomatic channels and actively advanced the implementation of those outcomes,” she added.

Looking ahead to the Delhi talks, Mao said: “China stands ready to continue an in-depth communication with India on the above-mentioned issues on the basis of the existing common understandings and with a positive and constructive attitude, and together maintain sustained peace and tranquility in the border areas.”

Responding to a question on the prospects of a boundary settlement, Mao stressed that the priority for both sides was to carry forward what had already been agreed. “The 23rd round of talks saw many important consensus and the two sides are implementing the series of consensus,” she said. “China looks forward to working with India, firstly to follow up on what has been agreed and on that basis will continue communication to maintain stability and tranquility across the border region.”

Apart from his meeting with Doval, Wang will also hold discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on bilateral ties and “issues of mutual interest,” Mao confirmed.

The visit comes just days ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled for August 31–September 1, which Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend.