India and China Hold ‘Constructive’ Diplomatic Talks in Beijing to Ease Border Tensions:

India and China met in Beijing on Tuesday for a diplomatic session which the Ministry of External Affairs reported was conducted in a “positive and constructive” environment. This meeting was undertaken in the ongoing attempts to control and settle border conflicts.

As per the official comment, “The 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on Indian China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on 25 March 2025 in Beijing.” Das and Hong presided over the separate Indian and Chinese delegations as joint secretary for East Asia and director general of the boundary and oceanic affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively.

The two representatives watched the state of affairs related to the Line of Actual Control in the border regions of India and China.

The two parties noted that they would continue to build upon existing diplomatic and military arrangements. They shared perceptions on the prompt recommencement of collaborative activities and interactions, including those related to cross-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

Additionally, both parties committed to enhanced collaboration toward the substantive preparations of the Special Representatives (SR) meeting scheduled to be hosted by India later this calendar year.

Before this on March 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed hope over India’s relations with China remarking the importance of reciprocating and understanding the other side.

“In my opinion, the relationship between India and China is quite old. Both countries have ancient cultures and civilizations, and even today they are relevant in the contemporary world. Looking at the history, India and China have been interdependent for centuries and they have, in some way or the other, contributed for the good of the world,” he stated in a podcast with AI researcher Lix Fridman.

He accepted that there has been a normalization of the border situation. The Prime Minister elaborated, “I accept that there is friction at the border between us. We are now in the process of returning to pre-2020 conditions. Trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return bit by bit, but it would take time because there has been a five-year window.”