Top-Level Representatives to Hold 25th Round of Talks on Long-Standing India–China Border Dispute
New Delhi | August 23, 2026 | The Global Journal
India and China are set to hold the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks on their long-standing border dispute. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will participate in the talks as their respective Special Representatives.
Doval is scheduled to travel to Beijing on Monday and meet Wang Yi on Tuesday. Established in 2003, the Special Representatives’ mechanism seeks an acceptable and comprehensive resolution to the dispute along the approximately 3,488-kilometre India–China border.
Border Stability Remains the Main Objective
Although several rounds of Special Representatives’ talks have been held, the border dispute has yet to reach a final settlement. However, the mechanism remains an important diplomatic channel for maintaining direct communication on sensitive border issues and preventing military tensions from escalating.
India–China relations came under severe strain after heightened border tensions in 2020. In recent years, both sides have been working to restore stability along the border and strengthen political and diplomatic communication.
Key Meeting Ahead of BRICS Summit
Doval’s Beijing visit comes ahead of the BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
China has not yet officially confirmed whether President Xi Jinping will attend the summit. However, if Xi travels to India, the visit could create an opportunity for a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the gathering.
Modi and Xi last met in August 2025 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
Jaishankar Stresses Need for Peace Along Border
Ahead of Doval’s visit, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the importance of peace and stability along the India–China border for improving broader bilateral relations.
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi on Saturday, Jaishankar said India and China went through a particularly difficult period from the summer of 2020 to the autumn of 2024, largely because of the situation along the border.
His remarks came amid reports of increased Chinese military activity in the Upper Subansiri area of Arunachal Pradesh.
Efforts to Reset Ties After 2020 Tensions
The Doval–Wang meeting comes as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and gradually normalize bilateral relations.
While the border dispute remains unresolved, both countries have emphasized the importance of maintaining regular diplomatic communication and stability along the frontier.
The upcoming 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks is therefore being viewed not merely as another discussion on the boundary dispute, but also as an important test of broader efforts to stabilize India–China relations after the tensions of 2020.
