India, China decide to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
India, China decide to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, direct flights
India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage that had been suspended since 2020 due to the pandemic. This decision was made following a meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two nations also expressed their intent to foster closer ties by enhancing people-to-people exchanges, with a special focus on collaboration between media outlets and think tanks. This move aims to build mutual understanding and strengthen diplomatic ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs in India issued a statement confirming that both countries would work through the relevant mechanisms to establish the specific modalities for the yatra’s resumption, ensuring that the process follows existing agreements. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is seen as a step forward in religious and cultural cooperation between India and China, especially after years of disruptions caused by the pandemic and border tensions.
Additionally, the two countries agreed to convene an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism. This meeting will focus on the resumption of the sharing of hydrological data, which is crucial for managing shared water resources, particularly trans-border rivers. The collaboration on hydrological data and other water resource issues is an essential part of India-China cooperation, as the two countries share many rivers, and water security is an ongoing concern. This agreement highlights both nations' commitment to maintaining a constructive relationship, especially in areas that impact regional stability and sustainable development. The talks also underscore the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between the two countries, which have experienced periods of tension in recent years but remain key partners in the region.
India, China should work for mutual understanding: Chinese foreign minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday ahead of further talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. This meeting is part of a series of engagements aimed at reducing tensions between India and China, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), following an understanding reached in October to ease tensions after a prolonged military standoff of over four years. Wang Yi emphasized the importance of both sides working towards mutual understanding and avoiding “suspicion” and “alienation.”
According to a readout in Mandarin from China’s foreign ministry, Wang stressed the need for China and India to “meet each other halfway,” focusing on mutual understanding and support. He highlighted that improving China-India relations serves the fundamental interests of both nations and is beneficial for protecting the rights and interests of countries in the Global South.
Since the October agreement on disengagement at two remaining "friction points"—Demchok and Depsang—India and China have been revitalizing mechanisms to address their long-standing border dispute and to normalize relations that had deteriorated to a six-decade low. In the weeks following the agreement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Russia, and senior officials from both sides, including foreign and defense ministers, have met during multilateral events. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also traveled to Beijing in December for discussions with Wang Yi, who also serves as China’s Special Representative for the border issue. This meeting between Wang and Misri marks their second meeting in less than five months.
India has taken a cautious approach to the ongoing talks, especially regarding Chinese requests to ease visa restrictions and resume direct flights suspended since 2020. China has urged that the border issue be addressed within the broader scope of the overall relationship, suggesting that both sides should focus on strengthening trade and investment ties moving forward.
India, however, has taken a more cautious approach in these talks, especially regarding China’s requests to ease visa restrictions and resume direct flights that have been suspended since the pandemic in 2020. China, for its part, has urged that the border issue be placed in the “appropriate place” within the larger framework of the overall bilateral relationship. This suggests a shift in focus toward enhancing trade, investment, and other economic ties while continuing to address sensitive issues like the border dispute.
At the recent meeting of the Special Representatives, India and China agreed to prioritize cross-border cooperation and exchanges. Key areas of focus include the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, sharing of hydrological data on trans-border rivers, and improving border trade.
The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past four years, is expected to be a major topic in Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's discussions with the Chinese vice foreign ministry on Monday. The talks will also address measures to build trust and facilitate de-escalation in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to sources familiar with the matter.
Ajit Doval, Wang Yi discuss measures for peace at LAC, amicable India-China ties
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Wednesday in Beijing for the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China. This was the first such meeting since tensions between the two countries escalated in the Western sector in 2020. The talks were held in line with the decision made during a recent meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, where they agreed to meet early to oversee peace management in border areas and explore a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary dispute.
Both Doval and Wang Yi reaffirmed the successful implementation of the disengagement agreement reached in October regarding the Demchok and Depsang areas, which allowed for patrolling and grazing activities in the relevant regions. The two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the border to ensure that tensions do not hinder the normal development of bilateral relations.
Drawing from lessons learned from the 2020 border clashes, Doval and Wang discussed various measures to advance effective border management and peace. They agreed to utilize and coordinate the relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms to maintain stability on the ground. The discussions also covered broader bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest.
The leaders provided positive directions for enhancing cross-border cooperation, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, sharing hydrological data on trans-border rivers, and facilitating border trade. Both agreed that stable, predictable, and amicable relations between India and China are crucial for regional and global peace and prosperity.
In addition to meeting Wang Yi, NSA Doval also met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Doval extended an invitation to Wang to visit India at a mutually convenient time to hold the next round of Special Representatives meetings.
How PM Modi convinced China on LAC patrolling agreement
The resumption of patrolling by both Indian and Chinese armies in the Depsang Bulge and Demchok areas of East Ladakh is the result of extensive negotiations. This breakthrough comes after the Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping dialogue aimed at resolving military tensions following the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) transgression into Indian territory in May 2020. The diplomatic efforts and military coordination between India’s government, the Indian Army, and the Ministry of External Affairs played a crucial role in managing these tensions. The Kazan meeting between Modi and Xi set the tone for resolving the standoff, paving the way for continued talks through the Special Representatives (SR) Dialogue.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will represent India in this dialogue, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be Beijing’s representative. Together, they aim to address the military buildup along the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC), working to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for further normalization of relations. The bilateral efforts also involve the Foreign Ministers of both countries in broader discussions aimed at restoring stable relations.
The patrolling agreement is a direct result of negotiations within the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), which has held 17 meetings since the deadly Galwan clash of June 2020. Additionally, military commanders from both sides have met 21 times to reach an agreement on disengagement and resumption of patrolling in key areas. Although disengagement in the Gogra-Hot Springs-Khugrang Nullah region was announced in September 2022, India insisted on the resumption of patrolling rights in Depsang and Demchok as a key condition for full normalization.
While the opposition Congress has raised concerns about buffer zones in the region, it is important to note that these zones are not permanent. The Indian Army is committed to resuming patrols in these areas once the situation stabilizes. The agreement focused only on the Western Sector, particularly where Indian and Chinese forces had blocked each other in Depsang and Demchok along the 1,597 km boundary in East Ladakh.
The agreement on resuming patrolling not only provides India with more diplomatic space but also reinforces Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position as a leader who has steadfastly refused to back down in the face of PLA provocations. Though patrolling has not yet resumed in Depsang and Demchok, the agreement has led to a reduction in tensions along the East Ladakh LAC, contributing to an overall easing of border tensions in the region.
Meeting of National Security Adviser with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the BRICS NSA Meeting. (n.d.). Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. https://www.mea.gov.in/press-re
dtl/38287/Meeting+of+National+Security+Adviser+with+his+Chinese+counterpart+on+the+sidelines+of+the+BRICS+NSA+MeetingNational Portal of India. (n.d.). https://www.india.gov.in/
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