VP Han Zheng urges steps toward normalising India-China relations in meeting with Doval

China’s Vice President Han Zheng called for continued high-level exchanges and the cultivation of mutual political trust during a meeting with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Beijing on Wednesday (December 18), according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Han pointed to the importance of gradually resuming dialogue between the two nations, amid efforts to stabilise relations strained by recent disputes.

Background of the comments

Han’s comments came after Doval held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of the Special Representative talks.

The talks, which began Wednesday morning, focused on restoring bilateral ties following an October 21 agreement to disengage troops in eastern Ladakh.

Doval’s visit is seen as a potential step toward normalising relations between the two countries, which have been tense since the deadly 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley.

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On the eve of the talks, China expressed its willingness to collaborate with India to “bring bilateral relations back to the track of stable and healthy development as soon as possible.”

The discussions marked the first high-level talks between the Special Representatives of India and China since December 2019. Previous interactions between Doval and Wang since then have primarily addressed multilateral issues, rather than resolving the long-standing border disputes.

With inputs from agencies