Gravitas | Ajit Doval to hold border talks in China, all eyes on Xi's possible India visit
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Gravitas | Ajit Doval to hold border talks in China, all eyes on Xi's possible India visit")
Ajit Doval Photograph: (AFP)
Ajit Doval's Beijing visit aims to strengthen India-China ties and prepare for Xi Jinping's possible India visit for the BRICS summit
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's possible visit to India for the BRICS Summit in September, India's national security advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on a crucial two-day visit with both countries eyeing a reset in their bilateral ties. Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold the 25th round of special representatives' talks on the dispute over the India-China border spanning three thousand four hundred and eighty eight kilometres.
During this visit, Doval will also call on China's Vice President Han Zheng. While relations between New Delhi and Beijing had come under severe strain after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, both sides have taken steps to stabilise ties. For instance, direct flights between India and China have resumed and the Kailash Mansarovar yatra has restarted. The last round of talks between Doval and Wang took place in New Delhi in August 2025. Back then, they reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas to promote overall development of the bilateral relationship.
On that occasion, they also agreed to re-open trade through the three designated trading points of Lipulekh pass, Shipki La pass and Nathu La pass and facilitate trade and investment flows. Doval's visit also assumes significance as it may lay the groundwork for Xi's potential visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit next month where he can meet PM Modi. Now, the two leaders last met in China's Tianjin in August last year on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
Back then, PM Modi affirmed that ties between the two countries are heading in a positive direction. Prior to that, PM Modi met Xi in October 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan. It is worth noting that seven years have elapsed since Xi Jinping's last visit to India. Have a look at these visuals from October 2019. As the Chinese President arrived in Chennai for a Summit with PM Modi, he was welcomed by traditional dancers and musicians. The two leaders met in Tamil Nadu's Mahabalipuram, which is known for its historic temples and architecture. Adorning a traditional Tamil attire, PM Modi took Xi on a tour around UNESCO world heritage-listed monuments in this town.
Xi who was dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers watched an Indian cultural show alongside PM Modi. On the next day, both leaders held talks in Mahabalipuram itself as part of their summit. Now, friction between both countries have been brewing over Arunachal Pradesh as well. Earlier in August, India rejected China's criticism of its decision to formally identify 27 places in Arunachal Pradesh on official maps.
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New Delhi stressed that the state is an inalienable and integral part of India and nothing can change this indisputable reality. Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made India's position amply clear. He emphasised that peace and tranquility in border areas is a pre-requisite for good relations between India and China.