In a renewed attempt to ease long-standing border tensions, India and China have once again held talks over their ongoing boundary dispute, the Chinese Defence Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. According to official statements cited in various media reports, the two sides held “active and in-depth communication” on strengthening control and management along the western section of the border, a region that has remained a persistent flashpoint between the two Asian giants.
“Both sides agreed to continue communication and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels,” the Chinese Defence Ministry reportedly said, signaling cautious optimism after months of relative quiet along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
An official response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is still awaited.
The latest round of dialogue comes against the backdrop of gradually improving relations between New Delhi and Beijing following the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which claimed lives on both sides and pushed bilateral ties to a historic low. Since then, the two nations have conducted multiple rounds of corps commander-level and diplomatic talks, though progress on troop disengagement has remained limited.
However, 2025 has seen tentative signs of rapprochement as both nations attempt to stabilize relations amid shifting global geopolitical equations and economic headwinds.
Earlier this week, direct commercial flights between India and China resumed after a long hiatus, marking a significant step toward normalizing bilateral exchanges. IndiGo Airlines became the first Indian carrier to operate the route, launching services from Kolkata to Guangzhou. Both governments welcomed the development, with the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi calling it a “major milestone” in restoring normal connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Adding to the momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year visited China for the first time in several years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin. On the sidelines of the summit, he held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to “strengthening mutual trust and advancing cooperation in the spirit of equality and respect.”
During their interaction, President Xi Jinping described India and China as the “dragon and elephant” that must work together to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across Asia.
