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China, India agree to keep working on improving ties in high-level meeting

New Delhi’s national security adviser Ajit Doval is in Beijing as Indian pilgrimages resume to sacred sites in Tibet

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Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday. Photo: EPA
China and India affirmed their commitment to improving bilateral ties and maintaining border peace in a meeting in Beijing on Monday between Ajit Doval, the Indian national security adviser, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang said there had been some progress in bilateral relations and it was essential for both sides to further improve communication, build mutual trust, and work towards resolving practical issues, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

He called on both sides to stick to the consensus that they were “each other’s development opportunities, not threats” and “partners, not rivals” to achieve a win-win outcome.

“Both sides must uphold the principle of good-neighbourly friendship, strive for mutual benefit, and demonstrate the historical wisdom of two great ancient civilisations by properly handling sensitive issues and maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.”

Wang added that Beijing and New Delhi should put more focus on areas of cooperation and strengthen exchanges across various levels and fields.

Doval is in China for a gathering of senior national security officials from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional bloc that focuses on security.

According to a Delhi statement issued on Monday after the Wang-Doval meeting, both sides underscored the need to promote the overall development of India-China relations, including by fostering greater people-to-people ties.

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