India says ties with China normalising as top officials meet in Delhi

NEW DELHI, June 22 (Reuters) – Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday on the sidelines of a BRICS National Security Advisers’ meeting in New Delhi, India’s foreign ministry said. 

Here are some details:

• India, chair of the BRICS group, is hosting a meeting of the BRICS national security advisers in New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday.

• India’s foreign ministry described the talks between Doval and Wang as “constructive and forward-looking”.

• The two leaders discussed recent developments in their relationship and ‘noted progress towards gradual normalisation’, according to the statement.

• Relations between the neighbours improved in 2024, ending years of friction that began with a border clash in 2020.

• “We must respect each other’s core interests, properly handle sensitive issues”, Wang said in a Chinese foreign ministry readout.

• Wang urged the resumption of bilateral dialogue mechanisms, and promoting exchanges in trade, finance, law enforcement and media.

• Wang also said the BRICS mechanism should actively advocate the promotion of the multi-polarisation process.

• BRICS brings together founders, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as well as other, more recent joiners.

(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi; and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)