India, China agree to resume multi-level dialogue on border disengagement

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- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: On the sideline of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' conference in Qingdao, in China, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun held bilateral talks on Thursday, to focus on de-escalating border tensions and promote regional stability. The discussion, amidst the tense relations since the 2020 border standoff, indicated both countries' prudent desire to manage their complicated relationship through persistent interaction.

At the centre of negotiations was ensuring peace along the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC). Singh emphasised the need to adhere to a "structured roadmap" that includes permanent engagement, de-escalation, and dialogue in resolving outstanding border demarcation issues. He called for a revival of current mechanisms and underlined that closing the "trust deficit" would involve not words, but tangible on-ground activities. The two ministers consented to resume multi-level talks within existing frameworks to push disengagement, de-escalation, and eventual border delimitation. Singh also emphasised that creating good neighbourly conditions was necessary for regional stability and international peace.