India and China have held fresh talks on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, with both sides emphasising the importance of maintaining peace and stability in border areas to support the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations.
The discussions took place during a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs held in Beijing on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks were “constructive” and “forward-looking”.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the MEA said both countries reviewed the situation in the border areas and expressed satisfaction over the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the frontier. The ministry noted that the improvement in the border situation had helped create conditions for gradual normalisation of overall ties between the two neighbours.
India and China have been working to rebuild relations over the past year after ties came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The incident led to a prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh that lasted for more than four years and significantly affected diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries.
During the latest WMCC meeting, officials discussed a range of issues related to the border situation, including border management, mechanism building, delimitation matters and cross-border cooperation. Both sides also agreed to work together on substantive preparations for the next round of talks between the Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries, which is scheduled to be held in China.
The Special Representatives mechanism remains one of the key channels for addressing boundary-related issues between India and China. In August last year, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the latest round of SR-level dialogue in New Delhi, where both sides agreed on several measures aimed at maintaining peace and stability along the border.
The MEA said the Indian side also highlighted the need for an early meeting of the expert-level mechanism dealing with trans-border rivers, an area of cooperation that remains important for both countries.
The ministry added that India and China agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts at diplomatic and military levels through existing mechanisms, including those established as part of the outcomes of the 24th Special Representatives talks.
The Indian delegation at the WMCC meeting was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The Chinese side was headed by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of China’s Foreign Ministry.
During his visit to Beijing, Ghosh also met Liu Jinsong, Director of the Department of Asian Affairs in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and paid a courtesy call on Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.
The latest round of talks comes as both countries continue efforts to stabilise and improve relations after years of tension along the border. Officials on both sides have increasingly stressed the importance of sustained dialogue and confidence-building measures to ensure peace in border regions while advancing broader bilateral engagement.
