시진핑 인도 방문 사전작업?…중-인 국경긴장 완화 8개항 합의

China and India have reached an agreement to resolve a long-standing border conflict through the creation of a new border delimitation expert group and the expansion of a military liaison network, according to a report from China's Xinhua News Agency on August 26th. During a meeting in Beijing on August 25th, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval signed off on eight key points at the 25th China-India Border Special Representatives Meeting. The two countries aim to find a fair, rational, and acceptable solution to their border issues.

The agreement includes the establishment of the Border Delimitation Expert Group and the Border Management Practical Group under the existing Working Mechanism on Border Delimitation and Settlement (WMCC). The former will discuss practical measures to achieve early practical results in delimitation, while the latter will address the management of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in border conflict zones.

To reduce military misunderstandings, the meeting also decided to expand the venue for high-level talks from one to two and install two new military liaison hotlines along the eastern and central borders. The two nations also agreed to expand civilian and economic exchanges in border regions. China is pushing for the expansion of pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in India, while both countries plan to increase border trade.

Next month, a cross-border river specialist meeting will be held to discuss the sharing of water information and related memorandum of understanding renewal issues. In the meantime, China and India have had a tense relationship since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.

Following the agreement on border issues in October 2024, the two countries have been engaged in a steady flow of icebergs along the border. South China Morning Post in Hong Kong suggests this agreement as preparation for Xi Jinping's 7th visit to India in seven years, which is scheduled to take place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Visakhapatnam from September 1st to 12th.

Xi is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit. However, the Chinese government has not officially confirmed Xi's visit to India.