India’s security chief Ajit Doval visits China for border talks ahead of BRICS meeting

New Delhi – India’s top security official arrived in Beijing on Aug 24 for talks on the countries’ disputed Himalayan border, ahead of a BRICS summit in September that New Delhi hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks on Aug 25.“Doval, India’s Special Representative (SR) on the India-China Boundary Question, arrived in Beijing on a two-day visit earlier this afternoon,” it said.Doval will also meet China’s Vice-President Han Zheng, it added.The two side have met repeatedly for talks about their border since a deadly 2020 clash.“At this meeting, the two sides will, in accordance with the spirit of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue to engage in in-depth communication on the boundary question and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters.The two Asian giants share a 3,500km border, and have in the past accused each other of trying to seize territory.India’s main opposition party earlier in August that it was “deeply alarmed” by India media reports that Indian and Chinese army patrols came face-to-face in late July in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. India’s government rejected those reports.China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet but India says the state is an integral part of its territory.Despite lingering distrust, ties between the neighbours have gradually improved, including through the resumption of direct flights and border trade.The Sept 12-13 BRICS meeting will be held in the Indian capital, with the Middle East, trade and the shifting global order expected to feature prominently.BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers.The grouping, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. AFP