Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, border trade to resume soon? India, China give 'positive' directions

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi provided “positive” directions for the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, border trade, and data sharing on trans-border rivers, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

During the 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs) in Beijing, the two sides underlined the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to ensure the overall development of bilateral ties. Doval and Wang exchanged views on measures for effective border management and decided to coordinate diplomatic and military mechanisms for this purpose.

"Drawing on the learnings from the events of 2020, they discussed various measures to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border and advance effective border management," the statement read.

"They provided positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges including resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, data sharing on trans-border rivers and border trade," it added.

The meeting, the first such SR-level talks since the recent disengagement agreement in the western sector of the border in October, followed the decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their informal talks in Kazan to expedite discussions on border management and a settlement of the boundary question.

Reiterating the importance of keeping a “political perspective” on bilateral relations, the two sides resolved to inject fresh momentum into the ongoing boundary talks and advance efforts to reach a mutually acceptable framework.

Doval extended an invitation to Wang to visit India for the next round of talks at a mutually convenient date, the statement added.

The meeting comes amid cautious optimism following the October disengagement agreement, which restored patrolling and grazing activities in key areas along the LAC. Both sides stressed the need to ensure that border issues do not impede overall bilateral relations.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and hasn’t yet resumed because of the non-renewal of arrangements by the Chinese side.