
New Delhi, January 23: A significant diplomatic foray is a two-day trip to China Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri makes from January 26-27. This would be the third high-level engagement between India and China in barely over two months as the two nations try to improve relations frayed by a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control.
Vikram Misri is visiting to revive the mechanism at the Foreign Secretary level on both sides focusing on rebuilding trust and dialogue on political, economic, and people-to-people fronts. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this visit comes after ‘an agreement at the leadership level’ to propel India-China relations forward, which means new impetus towards stability in their complex relationship.
The ‘agreement at the leadership level’ had emerged from a bilateral meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had had with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 16th BRICS Summit last October in Kazan, Russia. This meeting came across as a breakthrough after years of strained ties due to the military standoff in Eastern Ladakh since April 2020.
The Role of Vikram Misri in Strengthening India-China Relations
Based on intense diplomatic efforts by both sides, the two nations have almost agreed on an understanding of the ‘patrolling arrangement’ at the LAC. This will clear the way for troop disengagement in important friction points areas such as Depsang and Demchok.Vikram Misri will follow up on this agreement to explore next steps toward restoring peace and stability to border regions amid bilateral dialogue concerning other issues.
Over the past few months, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval have separately met with Chinese officials. Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, while NSA Doval held discussions in Beijing to address boundary issues and promote bilateral ties.
The two have also considered renewed cultural and trade exchange activities, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and data sharing in respect of the trans-border rivers. According to the MEA, the exchanges reflect mutual realization of the imperatives for restoration of trust as well as a broadening of areas of cooperation.
Despite the progress made in recent times, the boundary dispute continues to be a contentious issue in India-China relations. The two countries share a 3,448-km-long LAC that acts as a de facto boundary. However, the lack of a mutually agreed demarcation continues to fuel tensions.
Beijing has resisted India’s proposals for a clearly demarcated boundary, complicating efforts to achieve a lasting resolution. Nevertheless, both nations have committed to pursuing a ‘fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable’ solution to the pending boundary question while working to maintain peace in border areas.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit represents a critical step toward reinvigorating the stalled bilateral relationship. By addressing unresolved issues and advancing discussions on political, economic, and cultural fronts, the visit underscores India’s commitment to constructive engagement with China.
Observers will closely watch the outcome of this visit, as both nations navigate a delicate balance of resolving past disputes while charting a path for future cooperation.
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