China, India hold border talks, agree to continue search for boundary settlement - Reuters

**China and India Hold High‑Level Border Talks, Vow to Continue Search for a Settlement**

New Delhi – On Thursday, senior officials from China and India met in New Delhi to discuss the long‑standing border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The talks were led by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the first face‑to‑face dialogue at this level since the 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley. Both sides affirmed their commitment to “peace and tranquility” along the LAC and agreed to keep the communication channels open while pursuing a “political settlement” of the boundary question in the long term.

During the discussion, Beijing reiterated its preference for a “package solution” that would address multiple issues—including the demarcation of the border, the removal of troops, and confidence‑building measures—simultaneously rather than in a step‑by‑step sequence. New Delhi welcomed the idea of a comprehensive framework but cautioned that any arrangement must respect India’s sovereign interests and be based on mutually agreed parameters. Both parties said they would continue to work on advancing the delimitation of the boundary, even though no formal settlement framework was announced at the meeting.

The dialogue comes ahead of the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in Delhi next month, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend with a large delegation. Analysts view the timing as an opportunity for both nations to showcase diplomatic engagement on a broader multilateral stage. While the two sides have not resolved the core dispute, the continued talks are seen as a constructive step toward reducing the risk of unintended escalation and laying the groundwork for a future, mutually acceptable settlement.