India and China Pledge to Keep Border Channels Open
India and China have agreed to continue using diplomatic and military channels. They will use these channels to resolve outstanding border issues.
The agreement came after the 36th WMCC meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, August 6. The meeting focused on border stability and unresolved concerns.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides held frank discussions. They reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) Sujit Ghosh. The Chinese delegation was led by Director General Hou Yanqi.
Hou Yanqi heads the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides discussed ways to avoid miscalculation.
Why the Meeting Matters
The WMCC is a consultation and coordination mechanism for India-China border affairs. It allows the two countries to discuss border management at the official level.
The latest meeting followed the 35th WMCC in Beijing in May. It also followed the 24th round of Special Representatives talks held last year.
The current round built on those discussions. Both sides used the platform to review earlier decisions.
Key Decisions at the Meeting
The MEA said India and China agreed to keep using established channels for dialogue. These channels include the WMCC and local commander-level meetings.
Other agreed mechanisms will also remain in use. The goal is to resolve outstanding issues.
Both sides stated that peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential. They linked this stability to the overall development of bilateral relations.
Commitment to Avoid Miscalculation
The MEA said the two sides will use all existing channels to prevent misunderstandings. The ministry quoted the agreement as a shared commitment.
The two sides agreed “to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.” This was a central outcome.
Officials said the discussions were frank. Both countries agreed to continue contact on border matters.
Detailed Review of Border Areas
Both sides reviewed the current situation along the LAC. The MEA said the review was detailed.
The delegations also assessed the implementation of earlier agreements. This included decisions taken in previous rounds.
Officials noted that the border situation has remained stable. This stability was recorded during the review.
Trans-Border Rivers and Upstream Data
India raised the subject of trans-border rivers during the discussions. New Delhi asked for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism.
The Indian side also repeated its demand for technical details about upstream projects in China. These projects are on rivers that flow into India.
The MEA said India made these points during the meeting. The request has been consistent in previous talks.
India has stressed the importance of sharing technical details. The issue remains part of the bilateral agenda.
Follow-up to Special Representatives Talks
The WMCC meeting served as a follow-up to the 24th round of SR talks. That round took place last year, according to the MEA.
During those talks, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met. Wang Yi was visiting India for the dialogue.
The two leaders agreed to approach the boundary question from the overall bilateral relationship perspective. They also decided to look for a fair settlement framework.
This framework is based on the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles. The agreement provides the basis for boundary negotiations.
Boundary Settlement Process
The 24th SR round covered ways to maintain peace along the border. Both sides also discussed advancing the boundary settlement process.
In August 2025, during the 24th round, several follow-up actions were agreed. These actions were meant to strengthen the institutional framework.
One decision was to establish an Expert Group under the WMCC. The group will explore early progress on boundary delimitation.
Another decision involved creating a Working Group. The group will improve border management.
New General Level Mechanisms
India and China also agreed to create additional General Level Mechanisms. These will be in the eastern and middle sectors.
The two sides decided to continue using diplomatic and military channels. The MEA said this was part of the SR talks follow-up.
The new mechanisms add another layer of consultation. They are designed to maintain peace along the LAC.
Timeline of Recent Talks
The 24th round of SR talks took place in August 2025. During that round, both sides discussed border peace and boundary settlement.
The 35th WMCC meeting was held in Beijing in May. The 36th WMCC meeting followed it in New Delhi.
The recent series of talks follows agreements on border management. The process has continued through diplomatic and military channels.
Both countries have used these meetings to exchange views on unresolved concerns. The meetings also help plan future consultations.
Previous Meeting and Progress
The 36th WMCC meeting followed the 35th round held in Beijing in May. Both sides described the May discussions as constructive and forward-looking.
That meeting was followed by the New Delhi round. The continuity shows both countries value direct communication.
The MEA said the latest talks were part of the same process. The two sides reviewed progress since the last WMCC round.
Normalisation of Bilateral Relations
Officials expressed satisfaction with progress in preserving peace along the border. The MEA said tranquillity has enabled a gradual normalisation of ties.
India and China have been working to stabilise their relationship after past border tensions. The current focus is on maintaining the progress achieved.
The MEA statement said both sides acknowledged this connection. They linked border stability to broader improvements in bilateral ties.
The two countries have also used other diplomatic and military contacts. These include commander-level interactions.
Mechanisms for Future Engagement
India and China remain committed to using established mechanisms. The MEA said this is necessary to ensure stability and prevent misunderstandings.
Regular consultation through the WMCC and other forums will continue. The two sides intend to keep using local commander-level meetings.
The Expert Group under the WMCC will work on boundary delimitation. The Working Group will address border management challenges.
Additional General Level Mechanisms will operate in specific sectors. Together, these bodies form a multi-layered structure for dialogue.
Overall Importance of the Talks
The latest WMCC meeting was part of a larger effort to manage border issues. Both countries have an interest in maintaining stability.
Chinese and Indian officials have engaged at multiple levels in recent years. These include WMCC meetings, SR talks, and commander-level contacts.
The MEA said both sides will continue to communicate through established mechanisms. This approach is designed to avoid misunderstanding.
Officials said the talks allowed both sides to review past decisions. They also helped prepare for future interactions.
Next Steps
India and China have agreed to continue holding talks under the WMCC framework. Both sides said communication will be maintained through existing channels.
India has asked for the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers to be convened early. The request was repeated during the latest meeting.
Both sides have agreed to continue working on boundary delimitation. The Expert Group and Working Group will support this effort.
The MEA said the two sides are committed to stability and understanding. The latest meeting reinforced this shared objective.