National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is likely to visit China soon to take forward talks on addressing the long-standing border dispute following disengagement of forces on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A report by ANI quoted sources as saying that Doval is likely to visit China soon for Special Representative talks.
Indian and Chinese sides are working on the dates of the visit and NSA Doval could make a visit to Beijing for talks under the mechanism of Special Representative on the border issue by December-end or January beginning, a report by Hindustan Times quoted people with knowledge of the development as saying.
In the Special Representatives mechanism, Doval’s counterpart is Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.
Doval and Wang met last time on September 12 on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting in the Russian city of St Petersburg, when both the sides were working upon arrangements that resulted in October 21 disengagement at the two “friction points” of Demchok and Depsang.
In 2003, the Special Representatives mechanism was created to explore the “framework of a boundary settlement”. Since then, there have been 22 formal rounds of talks under the mechanism, with the last being held in 2019.
In April-May 2020, during the military standoff on the LAC, the Special Representatives held talks several times to find ways to end the face-off.
The upcoming Special Representatives meeting comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in the Russian city of Kazan on October 23.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and foreign minister Wang Yi on the margins of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18, and defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Asean Defence Ministers-Plus meeting in Vientiane on November 20.
During the meeting, Modi and Xi had decided to revive several mechanisms, including meetings of the Special Representatives, to address the border issue as well as normalise bilateral relations.
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs met in New Delhi on December 5 during which it was agreed on maintaining peace and tranquility on the disputed frontier in line with bilateral agreements and protocols.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar made a detailed statement on India-China relations in both Houses of Parliament – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In his address, Jaishankar highlighted the improvement in the ties between India and China after four years. He told the Lok Sabha on December 3 that full disengagement has been achieved in eastern Ladakh, adding that India-China relations have seen “some improvements”.
The EAM noted that India’s next priority would be to continue de-escalation.
“Recent developments that reflect continuous diplomatic engagements have set Indo-China ties in the direction of some improvement. Disengagement has been achieved in full in eastern Ladakh,” he said.
With inputs from agencies.
Link to article –
After breakthrough in Ladakh standoff, India’s NSA to visit China for special representative talks
