India, China discuss border issues, CBMS

NEWDELHI: India and China on Friday stressed the need to resolve their border differences at the earliest and discussed confidence building measures (CBMS) to ensure peace, barely four months after the two neighbours ended a tense standoff that still casts a shadow on bilateral ties.

The two sides stressed the need to resolve their differences with due respect for each other’s “sensitivities, concerns and aspirations” at the latest round of talks between their special representatives on the ‘Boundary Question’.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Member of Politburo of Communist Party of China’s Central Committee Yang Jiechi agreed that pending the final resolution of the boundary row, it was vital to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas.

The special representatives, Doval and Yang, re-emphasised their commitment to find a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution” to the lingering border dispute at an early date, the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. Friday’s dialogue in New Delhi marked the 20th round of talks between the special representatives to find a solution to the boundary row.

“The special representatives undertook a comprehensive review of earlier rounds of the talks and agreed that an early settlement of the boundary question serves the fundamental interests of both countries,” the MEA release said. It described the talks as “positive”. The two officials last met in Beijing on the sidelines of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) NSAS meet hosted by Yang in July, when Indian and Chinese soldiers were eyeball-to-eyeball at Doklam in the eastern sector.

“They (the special representatives) underlined the need for the two countries to build on their convergences, while seeking mutually acceptable resolutions of their differences with due respect for each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations,” the MEA said. The statement made no mention of Doklam.

Later, both officials briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the talks.