Tue Dec 17 09:33:03 UTC 2024: ## India and China to Resume Border Talks After Five-Year Hiatus

**Beijing, December 14** – India and China are set to resume their Special Representative (SR) dialogue on border issues on December 18th in Beijing, marking a significant step forward in improving bilateral relations. This follows an agreement on patrolling the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) and a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will lead the Indian delegation, meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for the 23rd round of SR talks. The discussions will focus on maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the long-standing boundary question.

The dialogue, suspended since 2020 due to the eastern Ladakh border standoff, was revived following the October agreement that concluded the disengagement process at the Demchok and Depsang friction points. The resumption of patrolling activities in these areas also signifies a de-escalation of tensions.

While welcoming the renewed dialogue, India maintains that normalized relations with China hinge on strict adherence to the LAC and existing border management agreements. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated India’s commitment to finding a fair settlement of the boundary issue while emphasizing the need for respect for the LAC’s sanctity and a rejection of unilateral changes to the status quo. The SR dialogue, established in 2003, aims to find a political solution to the complex boundary dispute along the 4,000 km LAC, a border lacking clear demarcations.

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