Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met in New Delhi on Tuesday for the 24th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks, focusing on the India-China boundary question. Wang Yi's visit to India, at the invitation of NSA Doval, aims to build on discussions between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the previous year and foster a "healthy and stable development of China-India relations".

During the meeting, Wang Yi stated that "the setbacks we experienced in the past few years were not in the interests of the people of our two countries". He referenced the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi in Kazan last October, noting that it "pointed the direction for the development of our bilateral relations and provided impetus for the proper settlement of the boundary question".

Ajit Doval highlighted a positive shift in the atmosphere between India and China. He noted that "borders have been quiet" and "there has been peace and tranquility". Doval attributed this progress to the leadership of both nations, especially following the discussions in Kazan. He also emphasized the "special importance" of the 24th round of SR-level talks, expressing hope for its success, particularly with Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

Earlier in the week, Wang Yi met with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of de-escalation and maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas as a foundation for advancing India-China ties. He articulated that relations should be guided by "mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest," and that "differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict". Discussions also encompassed economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, people-to-people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity, and bilateral exchanges.

Several sources suggest that the talks covered a range of topics, including the border situation, trade, and the resumption of flight services. China has reportedly pledged to address India's concerns regarding rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel boring machines. The resumption of border trade is also expected to be a key agenda point, symbolizing improved relations following agreements to reinstate direct flights and tourist visas.

This series of meetings occurs as both nations seek to strengthen bilateral relations after the Galwan Valley conflict in 2020. The visit and discussions are seen as a crucial step in resuming high-level diplomacy and setting the stage for Prime Minister Modi's participation in the SCO Summit.