According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the 25th meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Border Issues was held in Beijing on August 25, 2026. Wang Yi, the Chinese special representative and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and the Director-General of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, met with Doval, the Indian special representative and National Security Advisor, to discuss issues related to the China-India border and bilateral relations in a comprehensive, in-depth, friendly, and open manner.
Wang Yi stated that China and India are important neighbors and representatives of developing large countries and emerging economies. The healthy and stable development of Sino-Indian relations is in the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, in line with the common aspirations of countries in the Global South, and also conforms to the trend of the times. Sino-Indian relations have transcended the bilateral scope and have global and strategic significance. In recent years, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi have met twice in Kazan and Tianjin, reaching a series of important agreements that have pointed the way for the improvement and development of bilateral relations. The Chinese side wishes to work with the Indian side from a strategic and long-term perspective, strengthen communication, enhance understanding, resolve differences, overcome obstacles, and become friendly neighbors and partners who achieve mutual success, thus realizing a "dragon and elephant dancing together".
Wang Yi stated that both sides are implementing the consensus reached during the meeting of special representatives in an orderly manner. The institutionalized exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are gradually returning to normal, and they are committed to maintaining peace and stability in border areas. Both sides should draw on historical experience, place border issues in an appropriate position within bilateral relations, persist in moving forward, without any stagnation or regression, and gradually establish a positive narrative regarding China-India border affairs. Dialogue, peace, consultation, and cooperation should become the mainstream, thereby injecting positive elements into the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
Dovwal stated that both India and China are ancient civilizations, populous countries, and important economies. They are partners rather than competitors. A stable, predictable, and forward-looking relationship between India and China serves the common interests of the two nations and is of great significance for Asia and the world. Under the leadership of their respective leaders, relations between India and China have returned to a proper track, border areas maintain overall peace, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields are progressing steadily. India is willing to further strengthen strategic communication with China, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen multilateral collaboration, effectively manage border areas, explore solutions to border issues, and promote the rapid improvement and development of relations between India and China.
The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on advancing border demarcation negotiations, strengthening border control measures, improving institutional mechanisms, and promoting cross-border cooperation. They reiterated that they would follow the political guidelines agreed upon in 2005, with a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, and leverage the mechanism established by the Special Representatives to seek a fair and mutually acceptable settlement for border issues. Both sides will continue to address border issues through dialogue and negotiation, working together to maintain peace and stability along the border. It was agreed that the 26th meeting of the Special Representatives on the Sino-Indian Border Issues will be held in India in 2027.
Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
