India and China hold BRICS-side security talks in New Delhi
India and China have held bilateral security talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS national security advisers meeting, with both sides stressing the need to keep wider ties on track. Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the gathering on Monday. The meeting came as the two countries continue a cautious effort to stabilise relations after years of strain along their disputed border.
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According to a statement from India's foreign ministry spokesperson, the discussions were described as constructive and forward-looking. Doval said stable, predictable and constructive bilateral relations help build trust and better understanding between the two sides. Wang said it was imperative for the two countries to respect each other's core interests and take concrete actions to implement the important consensus reached by their leaders.
Wang also said sensitive issues should be handled properly and that the border question should be placed in an appropriate position so it does not affect the overall relationship. He said both sides should act on the consensus already reached, promote their own development through cooperation and help accelerate the modernisation of the Global South. The Indian delegation also included Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India's ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami and Deputy National Security Adviser Pavan Kapoor.
The talks matter because India and China remain the two most populous countries in the world and major strategic competitors in Asia. Their relationship has been shaped by the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in 2020, which sharply damaged trust and slowed broader engagement. Since late 2024, both sides have taken steps to ease tensions, and the New Delhi meeting suggests that diplomatic contact remains active even as the border dispute continues to cast a shadow over ties.
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The BRICS security advisers meeting provided a venue for the two governments to discuss bilateral issues away from the more public setting of formal ministerial talks. Wang's remarks indicate that Beijing wants the border issue managed without disrupting cooperation in other areas, while New Delhi has emphasised the value of predictability and stability. The exchange also reflects a wider effort by both countries to keep communication open while protecting their own strategic interests.
What remains unclear is how far the latest dialogue will translate into practical progress on the border or on other sensitive issues. No specific agreements were announced after the meeting, and neither side gave details of any timetable for follow-up steps. The next developments to watch are whether the two governments continue the normalisation process and whether further meetings produce measurable movement on border management and broader bilateral ties.
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