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China, India reach consensus on boundary questions, highlight outcomes in trade and direct flights during Wang Yi's visit

Global Times

By Zhang Wanshi and Chen Qingqing Published: Aug 20, 2025 12:33 PM

As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India concluded on Wednesday, the two sides have highlighted a series of consensus on boundary questions as well as outcomes in areas including direct flights and trade. Chinese experts said the meetings marked steady progress and demonstrated both countries' desire to improve their relationship and develop cooperation.

Wang arrived in India on Monday and has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as well as Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor and India's Special Representative on the China-India boundary question.

With the 24th Round of Talks Between the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question held on Tuesday, a 10-point consensus was reached, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry. A Chinese expert said the consensus is significant and underscores the active commitment of both sides to preserving peace and stability in the boundary regions.

According to the consensus, both sides positively evaluated the progress made in implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries since their meeting in Kazan, noting that boundary regions between China and India have remained peaceful and stable since the 23rd round of talks.

They agreed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for resolving the boundary question in accordance with the political guiding principles agreed by the two countries in 2005.

A demarcation expert group under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on China-India Border Affairs would be established to explore the possibility of advancing demarcation negotiations in areas where conditions are ripe, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

In addition to the existing general-level talks in the western section of the boundary, both sides agreed to establish a general-level talks mechanism in the eastern and central sections, and to hold a new round of general-level talks in the western section as soon as possible.

Both countries agreed to utilize the border management and control mechanisms through diplomatic and military channels, first reaching consensus on relevant principles and methods to promote de-escalation and management processes, Xinhua reported.

Besides, both sides exchanged views on cross-boundary river cooperation and agreed to use the expert-level mechanism for cross-boundary rivers to maintain communication on renewing the cross-boundary river flood reporting memorandum of understanding. The Chinese side agreed to share emergency hydrological information on relevant rivers with the Indian side based on humanitarian principles.

They also agreed to reopen three traditional boundary trade markets and hold the 25th round of talks in China in 2026.

These developments reflect both the implementation of the consensus reached in Kazan by China and India and their commitment to maintaining peace along the boundary regions, especially through new initiatives, Tian Guangqiang, an assistant research fellow with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Although the border issue is complex, both sides are currently willing to maintain peace in the border areas and prevent any escalation or impact on overall cooperation, which Tian said is highly significant.

Besides, during Wang's talks with Jaishankar on Monday, both sides also had positive, constructive, and forward-looking discussions on bilateral, regional, and international issues of common interest, and agreed on the understandings and outcomes.

Both sides agreed to support each other in hosting successful diplomatic events. The Chinese side will support India in hosting the 2026 BRICS summit. The Indian side will support China in hosting the 2027 BRICS summit.

They also agreed to explore and resume various official bilateral dialogue mechanisms and exchanges to enhance cooperation and address each other's concerns and properly manage differences, including holding the Third Meeting of the India-China High-level Mechanism on People-to-People Exchanges in India in 2026.

Outcomes also include resuming direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India at the earliest and finalize an updated air services agreement. Both sides also agreed on the facilitation of visas to tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors in both directions.

It also includes continuing and further expanding the scale of Indian pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash/Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Manasarovar/Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China in 2026.

The outcomes related to people-to-people exchanges reflect that China-India relations are gradually stabilizing, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times.

Related measures and efforts should be sustained by the Indian side, with attention to whether they can be maintained consistently over time without interruption or fluctuation, the expert noted.

India's actions were also partly driven by domestic economic pressures, and the country seeks to lift some restrictions imposed on China in recent years, welcome Chinese investment, and increase people-to-people exchanges to boost its economic confidence, Lan Jianxue, director of the Department of Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

At the same time, facing US pressure such as high tariffs, India aims to strengthen economic and trade ties with countries including China, helping to reduce some of the external pressure from the US, the expert added.

When asked about China's expectation for the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that through Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit, China hopes to work with India to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, keep the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, properly handle differences, and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-India relations.