NSA Ajit Doval To Visit Beijing For Boundary Talks Ahead Of Xi Jinping's India Visit

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is set to visit Beijing on Monday for the 25th round of India-China Special Representatives talks on the boundary issue, with the discussions coming ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected visit to India for the BRICS Summit in September. Doval is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister and Special Representative Wang Yi on Tuesday.

The talks are part of the established diplomatic mechanism between the two countries to address the long-running boundary dispute and maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control. The upcoming meeting assumes added significance as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise bilateral relations after years of military tensions.

Doval Heads To Beijing

Doval is expected to arrive in Beijing on August 24 for the latest round of Special Representatives discussions. Wang Yi, who also serves as China's Foreign Minister, is his counterpart in the mechanism.

The 25th round of talks will focus on the boundary question and follow up on issues discussed during previous meetings. The Special Representatives mechanism was established in 2003 to work towards a framework for resolving the India-China boundary dispute.

Xi Visit Adds Significance

The talks come ahead of Xi Jinping's expected visit to India for the BRICS Summit scheduled in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. However, an official confirmation of Xi's India visit has not yet been issued by either side.

If the visit takes place, it could provide an opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi to hold another high-level interaction as both countries work to improve ties.

Border Peace Remains Key

The boundary issue remains central to India's relationship with China. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly stressed that the state of the border will influence the broader trajectory of bilateral relations.

India and China reached an understanding in October 2024 to end the military face-off in parts of eastern Ladakh. The development helped create conditions for renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Earlier Talks Set Agenda

At the previous round of Special Representatives talks, India and China reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border.

The two sides also discussed developing a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for resolving the boundary question. They agreed to explore mechanisms for better border management and greater engagement between officials working on the issue.

A meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was also held in New Delhi on August 6. The discussions covered boundary delimitation, border management, institutional mechanisms and trans-border cooperation.

Ties Show Signs Of Reset

India-China relations have witnessed several efforts towards stabilisation since the 2024 disengagement understanding. The two countries have taken steps involving the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, direct flights and easing of some visa-related restrictions.

Despite these developments, differences over the unresolved boundary issue remain. There has been no confirmed breakthrough on a final settlement of the border dispute.

What Doval Talks Mean

The latest NSA Ajit Doval visit could help assess progress on border-management mechanisms and the broader framework for addressing the boundary question. It also provides an important diplomatic channel before the expected high-level engagement around the BRICS Summit.

For New Delhi, maintaining peace along the border remains a key condition for sustained improvement in bilateral relations. The outcome of the Beijing discussions could therefore influence the atmosphere surrounding any future Modi-Xi engagement.

The talks also come as India and China seek to manage differences through established diplomatic channels rather than allowing border tensions to derail wider relations.

Note: Xi Jinping's proposed India visit has not been officially confirmed by both governments as of August 24, 2026. The dates and agenda of the Special Representatives talks are based on reports from officials and current diplomatic reporting.