India and China Hold 25th Round of Border Talks as Ties Steady Ahead of BRICS Summit

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the India-China boundary question in Beijing on August 25, 2026. The discussions covered maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the border, progress on delimitation, and ways to expand bilateral cooperation.

Doval arrived in Beijing the previous day at Wang’s invitation. Earlier on August 25 he called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. According to the Indian Embassy in Beijing, the two discussed strengthening peace in the border areas and improving relations across economic, political and multilateral channels in line with consensus reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

Doval stated that Modi and Xi have given a clear and positive direction to the relationship, which is steadily returning to normalcy. He described India and China as ancient civilisations, populous nations and major economies that are partners rather than competitors. Wang, for his part, said China is ready to work with India to become good neighbours and partners for mutual success, approaching ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.

The Special Representatives mechanism was established in 2003 to address the 3,488-kilometre boundary dispute comprehensively. Both sides characterised the latest round as candid, in-depth and constructive. Indian statements emphasised the importance of border peace for the overall relationship. Chinese accounts described the talks as comprehensive and friendly and noted discussion of advancing boundary negotiations, strengthening management and promoting cross-border cooperation.

The meeting occurs ahead of the BRICS Summit scheduled for mid-September in India, where Xi is expected to travel for the first time in seven years. High-level contacts have increased since the leaders’ meeting in Kazan in October 2024 and subsequent encounters, including in Tianjin. Both governments have stressed that differences should not become disputes and that stable ties serve regional and global interests.

Structural differences remain, as noted by Chinese scholar Hu Shisheng ahead of the talks, yet the focus has shifted toward institutionalising stability. The talks provide an opportunity to take stock before the summit and to sustain the gradual normalisation under way since the disengagement agreements of recent years.

No specific new agreements on territorial issues were announced immediately after the meeting. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to the existing mechanisms and to the guidance provided by their leaders.