The June 22 Meeting – Facts on the Ground

India-China Talks: Doval Meets Wang Yi, Signalling New Strategic Consensus

India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on 22 June 2026 in New Delhi, reaffirming that the two neighbours are “partners, not rivals”. Both sides urged a swift revival of the dozens of stalled dialogue mechanisms and hinted that President Xi Jinping may attend the BRICS summit in September, underscoring a broader push to normalise ties.

The talks took place on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ gathering in New Delhi. Doval, as India’s National Security Adviser, and Wang Yi, a senior Politburo member and head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, exchanged views on border stability, trade, and the resumption of bilateral forums.

• ▸The meeting was held on 22 June 2026, the day after the BRICS NSA summit.
• ▸Doval stressed that India “views China as a partner, not a rival” and highlighted the need to “properly handle sensitive issues”.
• ▸Wang Yi echoed the sentiment, stating that “China‑India relations have emerged from their low point and are on a recovery track”.
• ▸China’s foreign ministry noted that “about 50 government‑to‑government dialogue mechanisms exist, but most remain stalled”.
• ▸Both sides referenced the upcoming BRICS leaders’ summit in September, where President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India.

The significance of the encounter lies in the activation of the Special Representatives mechanism, a senior‑level channel that was dormant after the 2020 border standoff. By reviving this track, both capitals signal a willingness to move beyond tactical mistrust toward a more structured strategic dialogue.

Historical Context of Dialogue Mechanisms

India and China have built a dense web of bilateral platforms since the early 1990s, covering trade, finance, security, and cultural exchange. The sheer number—around fifty—reflects the ambition to institutionalise cooperation despite periodic tensions.

• ▸The Working Mechanism for Consultation on the India‑China Border Affairs, the Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum, and the Joint Working Group on Trade are among the most active.
• ▸Since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, many of these forums have been suspended, leading to a “dialogue deficit”