Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India for the first time in three years to discuss the latest round of border talks, the Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed.
During the trip from August 18 to 20, the top Chinese diplomat will serve as the “special representative of the China-India boundary question” in the 24th round of border talks “at the invitation of the Indian side”, according to a Saturday statement from the ministry.
This series of negotiations aims to address long-standing border disputes, which have seen a temporary de-escalation following years of tension. Wang is expected to meet top Indian officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The two last met in Beijing in December to review disengagement in eastern Ladakh along the disputed border, known as the Line of Actual Control, where an estimated 50,00060,000 troops remain deployed on each side.
“We stand ready to work with India to act on the important common understandings reached between leaders of our two countries, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, cement political mutual trust, enhance practical cooperation, properly handle differences, and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-India ties,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday in response to speculation about a trip by Wang.
“China and India are both major developing countries and important members of the Global South,” he said. “A cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant as partners helping each other succeed is the right choice for both sides.”
Wang’s trip comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1.
The easing of tensions between China and India has gathered pace while New Delhi’s relationship with Washington is strained by growing trade disputes.
China and India had already been working to improve relations following the deadly clash between their troops in the disputed Galwan Valley in June 2020.
Wang’s last visit to India was a brief working trip on March 25, 2022, just weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Backchannel talks since late last year have yielded more incremental progress. Both armies completed disengagement at multiple friction points along the Line of Actual Control, and New Delhi reopened visa slots for Chinese nationals earlier this year, while Beijing resumed access to Tibet for Indian pilgrims.
Both countries have also announced plans to resume direct flights.
