India-China 22nd Meeting of Special Representatives: 'Both Countries Need to Resolve Boundary Question to Promote Bilateral Relations', Says NSA Ajit Doval

New Delhi, December 21: The 22nd round of Special Representative of India and China was held in New Delhi on Saturday. In the meeting, both the countries discussed border issue. The Indian side was led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, while Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi represented Chinese delegation. India and China also discussed other bilateral issues. Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping Informal Summit Concludes; India, China Agree to Establish New Mechanism to Discuss Trade And Investment.

During the talks, the leaders of India and China offered a new vision and strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations. After the meeting, NSA Doval said that both should strengthen strategic communication. He also stressed on resolving boundary question through dialogue and consultation, so that greater development of bilateral relations could be promoted.

Ajit Doval's Statement:

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, “The meeting is not only the main channel for the two countries to discuss boundary question, but also an important platform for strategic communication between the two sides.” Both the sides also agreed to hold 70 commemorative events. Wang said, “Next step is to take 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.” The Chinese Foreign Minister also called for that boundary negotiations between both the countries should be in line with agreement on political parameters.

Wang Yi's Statement:

It was the first meeting between the representatives of the two countries after the 2nd informal summit that took place in the coastal town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu in October this year. The high-level dialogue between special representatives of the two countries began in 2003. India-China Relations Have Far-Reaching Strategic Significance, Says Chinese Envoy Sun Weidong.

China occupies Aksai Chin, around 37,000 sq km uninhabited high-altitude desert in Jammu and Kashmir bordering China's Xinjiang province. China also contests Indian sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, a hill state in the northeast bordering Tibet. With an area of around 84,000 sq km, Arunachal has a population of around 1.5 million people.

India's boundaries, including the princely states which acceded to the country, were defined by the British before Independence. However, China occupied Aksai Chin and disputed the boundary of Arunachal Pradesh in the 1962 war with India.

Except for the 1962 war in which India was defeated, the two countries have remained largely peaceful. Tensions have erupted only occasionally over the disagreement between the two armies over their jurisdiction along the Lines of Actual Control (LAC). In 2017, a 70-day standoff also took place between the armies of both the countries in Doklam area of Bhutan.

(With inputs from IANS)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2019 12:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).