The 23rd SR meeting marks a significant step in restoring India-China relations after the 2020 military standoff.
The meeting revived discussions on the 3,500 km-long LAC boundary dispute, paused since 2020.
This was the first SR meeting since 2019, with Doval’s visit to Beijing being the first high-level trip to China since 2020.
Agreements:
Restart of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, Sikkim border trade, and data sharing on trans-boundary rivers.
Discussions on restoring direct flights, business/student visas, and journalist exchanges.
The talks produced “six consensuses” or “positive directions” on:
Continuing LAC de-escalation.
Reverting to the 2005 agreement for boundary resolution.
Strengthening Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and cross-border exchanges.
Enhancing coordination between the SR process and the Working Mechanism for Consultation on India-China Border Affairs.
Holding the next SR meeting in 2025 in India.
It comes ahead of the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations in 2025 and a potential visit by Modi to China for the SCO summit.
Transparency in future talks is crucial to prevent issues like troop buildups and boundary violations, and to ensure effective deterrence against future aggression.
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