National Security Advisor (NSA) of India Ajit Doval plans to visit China soon to engage in high-level talks to further dialogue with the Chinese on the border controversy. This visit comes against the backdrop of the recent disengagement of forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with both sides trying to arrive at the dates of disengagement. Sources informed about the development said that Doval could travel to Beijing at the end of this year or early next year in January to carry forward talks under the Special Representatives mechanism, which deals with the border dispute.
In these deliberations, Doval has a counterpart in China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This is their last meeting before September 12 this year, when they attended a multilateral meeting in St Petersburg, Russia and worked out modalities that culminated in the disengagement of the frontline personnel in Demchok and Depsang, two face-off sites on October 21 this year.
This upcoming meeting will be held after several top-level interactions between India and China to ease relations between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a face-to-face conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit held in Kazan on October 23. Subsequent to that, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and foreign minister Wang Yi talked on the sidelines ofthe G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18. Besides, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun had a talk on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers-Plus meeting held in Vientiane on November 20.
These interactions are carried out from time to time in an effort to enhance stability in relations with neighboring countries and promote a peaceful border. The next meetings of Doval and Wang are likely to discuss steps for reaching a more relaxed atmosphere as well as the remaining sensitive issues about the LAC with the ultimate goal of ensuring stability and order for India and China.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates