India and China Advance Talks on Boundary Delimitation and Border Management

India and China have decided to advance discussions on a new framework for settling their boundary dispute, according to a statement released The two sides have agreed on two new military hotlines and meeting points, as well as plans to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in border trade, pilgrimage, and other areas.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval holds the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks with China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, in Beijing, China. The two sides had previously discussed forming an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) to explore early harvest of the boundary delimitation.

For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Special Representatives Talks

The Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation and Working Group on Border Management under the WMCC would respectively advance discussions on an Early and Substantial Harvest of boundary delimitation and Border Management. The first task for both these groups would be to agree on their respective Terms of Reference.

The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in border trade, pilgrimage, and other areas, with the view to work together to create an atmosphere featuring dialogue, peace, consultation, and cooperation in the border areas. They also appreciated the progress on trans-border cooperation.

The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the China-India Expert-Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers in September and maintain communication on issues including hydrological data sharing, and renewal of relevant MoUs. They also plan to hold the 26th round of SR-level talks in India in 2027.

Boundary Delimitation and Management

The decision comes after the two sides held Special Representative-level talks in Beijing Tuesday. According to a statement released

India and China have resolved to advance discussions on “an early and substantial harvest” of boundary delimitation and border management, and concurred on two new border military hotlines in the eastern and middle sectors, two new meeting points for military commander-level meetings, and on holding the trans-border river meeting next month. These form part of eight outcomes and consensus after the Special Representative-level talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing Tuesday.

Read More: China’s Xi Jinping may attend BRICS summit in Delhi next month with large delegation

A statement released Wednesday Read | Doval holds talks in Beijing, China says let’s think long-term, manage differences According to the statement, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to “uphold the guidance received from the leaders of the two countries, maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas” and “create an atmosphere for healthy and steady development of bilateral relations”. The two sides underlined their commitment to “advancing negotiations on a framework for the settlement of the boundary question in accordance with the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question signed in 2005 and the consensus reached in subsequent SR talks, in pursuit of a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution,” it stated.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval holds the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks with China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, in Beijing, China. (Handout via PTI Photo) “The Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation and Working Group on Border Management under the WMCC would respectively advance discussions on an Early and Substantial Harvest of boundary delimitation and Border Management.

The first task for both these groups would be to agree on their respective Terms of Reference,” the statement stated on the third outcome. The WMCC is the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.

Incidentally, when Doval and Wang held talks in New Delhi on August 19, 2025, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, they had resolved to form an expert group under the WMCC to explore early harvest of the boundary delimitation, and a working group under the WMCC to advance effective border management. Read | China’s Xi Jinping may attend BRICS summit in Delhi next month with large delegation On the fourth outcome of the Beijing meeting, the statement stated: “The two sides concurred that any situation on the ground would be addressed promptly through existing diplomatic and military channels, including the WMCC, local commander-level meetings and other concurred mechanisms, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.

The two sides discussed ways to improve understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas for better border management.” The fifth outcome stated: “With the objective to improve the border management measures, an additional two meeting points were concurred for holding the General Level Mechanism/Senior Highest Military Commander meeting (SHMC). Similarly, two additional channels of border military hotline in the Eastern and Middle Sectors were concurred Last year, the two sides had concurred on general level mechanisms in the eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh) and middle sector (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), in addition to the existing mechanism in the western sector (Ladakh).

The sixth outcome of the meeting stated: “Both sides noted the progress on trans-border cooperation. The Indian side appreciated the efforts made Both sides appreciated the reopening of the three designated border trading points.

The two sides concurred to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in border trade, pilgrimage and other areas, with the view to work together to create an atmosphere featuring dialogue, peace, consultation and cooperation in the border areas.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement described the Tibet Autonomous Region as “Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China”. The seventh outcome was that “the two sides concurred to hold the next meeting of the China-India Expert-Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers in September and maintain communication on issues including hydrological data sharing, and renewal of relevant MoUs.” This is especially important for the Brahmaputra, and timely sharing of data for river management.

Listing the eighth outcome, the statement stated the two sides concurred to hold the 26th round of SR-level talks in India in 2027.