New Delhi: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is set to arrive in Beijing on Monday to participate in high-level boundary negotiations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two designated Special Representatives are scheduled to convene the 25th round of talks on Tuesday, marking their first direct bilateral engagement in a year to address the unresolved border alignment along the 3,488-kilometre Line of Actual Control.
The upcoming discussions will centre on the framework established under the 2005 “Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question.” This foundational agreement calls for a comprehensive, mutually acceptable package solution covering all sectors of the border while safeguarding the interests of settled populations in frontier areas. Progress on boundary demarcation has historically faced obstacles, notably after early map exchanges were restricted to select sectors like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, while exchanges for Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh were withheld.
The meeting follows the creation of an expert group tasked with exploring early-harvest solutions for less contentious segments alongside a dedicated working group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. Despite the 2005 pact’s pledge against the threat or use of force, the border region has experienced recurring friction over the past decade, including stand-offs at Depsang, Chumur, and Doklam, as well as the fatal Galwan Valley confrontation in Eastern Ladakh in 2020. The renewed dialogue reflects both sides’ intent to manage boundary friction through sustained political engagement.
