Why Ajit Doval visits China amid border tensions
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) met with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Beijing in 2014 – Reuters.
Amid efforts to ease border tensions and normalize relations between India and China, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on Monday. He is scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday to discuss the border dispute. Doval’s visit is considered significant as relations between the two countries are gradually returning to normal. India’s Ministry of External Affairs also said that he will meet Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two sides would hold “in-depth discussions” on the border dispute during the meeting. Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “The meeting between the special representatives of China and India is the main channel for discussions between the two countries on the boundary question. At the same time, it is also an important platform for communication on issues of mutual interest.”
He said, “In August last year, China and India successfully held the 24th round of talks. During that meeting, the two neighbours had an in-depth exchange of views on the boundary question and reached common understandings on a number of issues. At this meeting, based on the common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, the two sides will continue in-depth discussions on the boundary question to maintain peace and stability in the border areas.”
Lin Jian said the two sides would also exchange views on bilateral relations as well as various international and regional issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India next month. He is scheduled to travel to India to attend the BRICS summit on September 12. Doval’s visit to Beijing ahead of that trip is providing the two countries with an opportunity to review the progress of their bilateral relations.
Relations between the two countries have gradually improved since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
Earlier this month, the two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The review took place during a meeting of officials under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs. In a statement, the two sides said they had “a detailed exchange of views on issues related to boundary delimitation, border management, the establishment of various institutional mechanisms and cross-border cooperation.”
At their latest meeting of special representatives in August 2025, India and China agreed to establish an expert group under the WMCC. Its objective was to “explore the possibility of expeditiously implementing measures for boundary delimitation in various sectors of the India-China border.”
Although India-China relations deteriorated sharply after the 2020 Galwan clash, the two countries have gradually been trying to normalize ties since Modi and Xi met in Kazan in October 2024. At last year’s 24th round of talks between the special representatives, the two sides decided to establish an expert group to work on an “early harvest” regarding the boundary dispute.
Earlier this month, the two countries also reviewed the LAC situation and discussed boundary delimitation and border management. Against this backdrop, Doval’s visit to Beijing ahead of Xi Jinping’s possible visit to India for the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September is being viewed as an important opportunity to assess progress in relations between the two countries.
Source: The Hindu, India Today
