The special representatives (SRs) of India and China met in Beijing on Wednesday for the first time since the Galwan clash in keeping with the improvement in relations following the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh.

India was represented by national security adviser Ajit Doval and China by foreign minister Wang Yi. The SRs had last met in Delhi in December 2019.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia's Kazan last month, the two SRs had been tasked to meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas and explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.

According to the Indian readout on the meeting, the SRs iterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective on the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for the settlement of the boundary question. They also resolved to inject more vitality into this process. "The SRs positively affirmed the implementation of the latest disengagement agreement of October 2024, resulting in patrolling and grazing in relevant areas," it added.

They also emphasised the need to ensure peaceful conditions on the ground so that border issues did not impede the development of bilateral relations. "Drawing on the learnings from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border and advance effective border management. They decided to use, coordinate and guide the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this purpose."

According to Chinese ambassador Zu Feihong, Doval met Vice-President Han Zheng, who stressed the need to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, foster mutual trust and resume dialogue on economy, trade and culture to bring bilateral ties back on track. India and China are set to usher in the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.