India, China begin phased border delimitation as Modi accepts Xi’s SCO summit invitation

In a significant thaw in bilateral ties, India and China agreed to launch a phased technical delimitation of less contested stretches along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The decision, made during the 24th round of boundary talks co-chaired by NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marks a pragmatic step toward restoring stability.

The agreement includes establishing an expert-level mechanism under the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) to implement de-escalation on the ground. In addition, both sides endorsed “early-harvest” confidence-building measures and committed to technical mapping of identified border sectors.

Amid these developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted an official invitation from President Xi Jinping to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1.

The invitation was conveyed by Wang Yi during their bilateral meeting, which also covered steps toward resuming border trade, direct flights, visa exchanges, and pilgrimages, alongside improved coordination on regional issues.

Notably, China also offered to address India’s needs for rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring technology—critical inputs for infrastructure development.

The fast-tracked rapprochement comes amid rising global pressures, including tariff threats from the US. Both nations agreed to support each other’s upcoming BRICS summits — India hosting in 2026 and China in 2027 — further solidifying multilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi characterized the renewed engagement as a pathway to ensuring "stable, predictable, and constructive ties"—key for both regional stability and global peace.