India's NSA Ajit Doval and China's Diplomat Wang Yi Discuss Bilateral Ties Amid Ongoing Border Standoff

In a meeting held on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS gathering in South Africa on Monday, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval of India and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi engaged in discussions to address the challenges in their bilateral relationship. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement confirming the meeting.

During the discussion, NSA Doval conveyed concerns over the deteriorating strategic trust between the two nations since the 2020 border standoff in the Western Sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The situation has impacted the foundation of the relationship on both public and political levels, as stated in the official communication.

NSA Doval emphasized the significance of resolving the LAC situation completely to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, thereby removing obstacles to normalcy in their bilateral relations, according to the statement released by the MEA.

Both sides agreed that the India-China relationship holds significance not just for their nations but also for the broader region and the world, underlining the mutual interest in finding solutions to their differences.

The meeting between Ajit Doval and Wang Yi came shortly after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent meeting with Wang in Jakarta, where they discussed outstanding issues relating to peace and tranquility in the border regions.

The ongoing military standoff between India and China has posed the most complex challenge in Jaishankar's extensive diplomatic career, highlighting the importance of diplomatic dialogues to find common ground and solutions.

China's Wang Yi stressed that his country has no intention to seek hegemony and expressed readiness to collaborate with developing nations, including India, to support multilateralism and democratization of international relations. He also underscored the significance of promoting a more just and equitable development of the international order.

Earlier on the same day, NSA Ajit Doval called for collective efforts to tackle cybersecurity challenges during the Friends of BRICS meeting, where he also held bilateral discussions with counterparts from other BRICS countries. South Africa is set to host the BRICS Summit next month, gathering Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa for strategic cooperation and dialogue.