India and China have reached an eight-point consensus following the 25th round of talks between their Special Representatives on the long-running boundary dispute.
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the talks in Beijing on August 25. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and improving the overall atmosphere for bilateral relations.
One of the most significant elements is the agreement to advance discussions towards an “Early and Substantial Harvest” on boundary delimitation and border management. Both countries said negotiations would continue under the framework established by the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles.
More military communication channels
To reduce the possibility of misunderstandings or escalation along the Line of Actual Control, India and China agreed to establish two additional meeting points for senior military commanders.
The two sides will also create two additional military hotline channels in the Eastern and Middle Sectors. Existing diplomatic and military mechanisms will continue to be used to address situations on the ground and prevent miscalculation.
Trade, pilgrimage and rivers also on agenda
The agreement extends beyond the military border issue. India and China discussed expanding cooperation on border trade and pilgrimage, including arrangements relating to the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage.
The countries also agreed to hold the next meeting of their expert-level mechanism on trans-border rivers in September, with continued communication on hydrological data sharing and relevant agreements.
The 26th round of Special Representatives’ talks is scheduled to take place in India in 2027.