India and China to continue to seek political settlement of border issue
India and China agreed to continue to seek a political settlement of their border dispute in talks between top officials held in Beijing on Tuesday.
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the designated special representatives for the border talks mechanism, “had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the India-China boundary question, and agreed to continue their work in seeking a political settlement of the boundary question in the context of their overall and long-term interests,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It said the two sides expressed satisfaction at the steady resumption of people-to-people and cross-border exchanges, including the ongoing Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage and resumption of border trade through the Himalayan passes.
The special representatives noted the progress made in implementing the consensus reached between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in October 2024, and again in Tianjin, China in August 2025 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
ICYMI: Doval, Wang Yi Hold 25th Round Of India-China Boundary Talks
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) August 26, 2026
New Delhi and Beijing agreed to continue working towards a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” settlement of their boundary question, while stressing the importance of maintaining peace along the border.… pic.twitter.com/L0jbSFQcjd
Kazan was the first formal bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi in four years, since a skirmish in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas in 2020 left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers dead.
At Kazan, Modi and Xi agreed to use the special representatives mechanism and foreign minister dialogues to seek solutions to the border question and maintain peace in border areas.
The Beijing talks were held under the strategic guidance of Modi and Xi and in a constructive and forward-looking spirit, the statement said, adding that India highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas for the continued development and progress of bilateral relations.
Doval and Wang also discussed bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest, as the two neighbors prepare for this year’s SCO summit next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and the BRICS summit next month in New Delhi.
Xi is expected to attend the BRICS meeting with a large delegation, according to reports.
Doval also called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng before the special representative talks.
