6 Point Consensus of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question

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Country/entity: China
India
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: 6 Point Consensus of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question
Date: 18 Dec 2024
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/interstate conflict
Sino-Indian Border Dispute (1962 - )
There are two main areas that are disputed by China and India. These areas are largely unpopulated and are sparse with resources, but strategically important for both powers. Tensions mounted during the 1962 border war and 1986 skirmish. In the North-West there is the Aksai Chin plateau that is administered by China, but is claimed by India. Bordered by Tibet and Xinjiang, this border is approximately 685 miles long. The dispute in the Eastern sector on the tri-border area between India, China and Myanmar is largely due to a disagreement over the McMahon Line named after Sir Henry McMahon, the representative of the Indian Government to the Simla Conference of 1914. The line itself follows the watersheds of the Himalayas from Bhutan to Myanmar. China does not recognise the McMahon line, due to its original imperial context, and their claim runs along the foothills in Indian Territory. The area under dispute covers an area of 36,000 square miles. The Middle sector between Bhutan and Nepal is demarcated by the Himalayan watersheds. The border was confirmed in the British-Chinese Convention of 1890 and was undisputed until a brief standoff emerged in this sector in June 2017 on the Doklam plateau.
Since 2003 intensified efforts by the two powers have resulted in talks on the border issues handled by special representatives. However, the two sides continue to have differing opinions on the location of the 'Line of Actual Control' (LAC), which has led to incursions and military build-ups in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: China-India border dispute peace process
Parties: Chinese Special Representative: Wang Yi (Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office)

Indian Special Representative: Doval (National Security Advisor)
Third parties: -
Description: The 23rd meeting of China-India Special Representatives on border issues was held in Beijing on December 18, 2024, marking the first such meeting in five years. The representatives reached six consensus points covering border management, confidence-building measures, cross-border cooperation, and future meeting mechanisms. The meeting emphasized maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas while seeking a fair and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.

Agreement document: CN_IN_241218_6 Point Consensus of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Source of document: https://x.com/Z_DauletSingh/status/1869399538114715745/photo/1

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: 2. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue in accordance with the political guidelines agreed upon by the special representatives of the two countries on resolving the boundary issue in 2005, and to take positive measures to promote this process.
Cross-border provision: 1. Both sides positively evaluated the solution reached between the two countries on border issues, reiterated that the implementation work should continue, and believed that the border issue should be properly handled from the overall situation of bilateral relations so as not to affect the development of bilateral relations.
Both sides agreed to continue to take measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
3. The two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine the management and control rules in the border area, strengthen the building of confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and tranquility on the border.
4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation, and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade.
5. The two sides agreed to further strengthen the construction of the special representatives' meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations, and require the China-India Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) to carry out follow-up implementation of this special representatives' meeting.
6. The two sides agreed to hold a new round of special representatives' meetings in India next year, and the specific time will be determined through diplomatic channels.
In addition, the two sides also had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, international and regional issues of common concern, emphasizing the importance of a stable, predictable and good China-India relationship to international and regional peace and stability.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: 4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation, and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: 4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation, and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: 4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation, and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Both sides agreed to continue to take measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
3. The two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine the management and control rules in the border area, strengthen the building of confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and tranquility on the border.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.

China-India special representatives reach 6 consensus points at meeting on border issue

2024-12-18 21:16

On December 18, 2024, the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question was held in Beijing.

This was the first meeting between the two sides in five years.

Based on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in the Kazan meeting, Chinese Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi and Indian Special Representative and National Security Advisor Doval held substantive discussions on the China-India border issue in a positive and constructive manner and reached six consensuses:

1. Both sides positively evaluated the solution reached between the two countries on border issues, reiterated that the implementation work should continue, and believed that the border issue should be properly handled from the overall situation of bilateral relations so as not to affect the development of bilateral relations.

Both sides agreed to continue to take measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

2. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue in accordance with the political guidelines agreed upon by the special representatives of the two countries on resolving the boundary issue in 2005, and to take positive measures to promote this process.

3. The two sides assessed the border situation and agreed to further refine the management and control rules in the border area, strengthen the building of confidence-building measures, and achieve sustainable peace and tranquility on the border.

4. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cross-border exchanges and cooperation, and promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' pilgrimage to Tibet, China, cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade.

5. The two sides agreed to further strengthen the construction of the special representatives' meeting mechanism, enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations, and require the China-India Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) to carry out follow-up implementation of this special representatives' meeting.

6. The two sides agreed to hold a new round of special representatives' meetings in India next year, and the specific time will be determined through diplomatic channels.

In addition, the two sides also had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, international and regional issues of common concern, emphasizing the importance of a stable, predictable and good China-India relationship to international and regional peace and stability.