Amid Ongoing Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, India And China Discuss Strengthening People-To-People Ties

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday (23 June) in Beijing.

NSA Doval was in China to attend the 20th Meeting of the SCO Security Council Secretaries.

As per a report by The Economic Times, Doval reiterated India’s commitment to dismantling terror infrastructure and discussed broader issues such as Ukraine, Iran, and the need to strengthen people-to-people ties.

"During the meeting, both sides reviewed recent developments in India-China bilateral relations and underscored the need to promote the overall development of the India-China bilateral relations, including by fostering greater people to people ties. NSA also emphasized the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region," the MEA said in a release.

Views were also exchanged on other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, it added.

Wang Yi responded by noting “positive progress” in engagement and called for constructive dialogue on border stability.

The meeting comes amid the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, a symbolic pilgrimage that was suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

According to a report by The Washington Post, the first group of about 40 Indian pilgrims departed New Delhi on 16 June and crossed into Tibet Autonomous Region on 21 June.

The Yatra takes devotees to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.

Beijing welcomed the pilgrims and framed the reopening as a gesture of goodwill.

While unresolved issues such as Line of Actual Control( LAC) disputes and China’s support for Pakistan remain, the Yatra’s revival is being seen as meaningful confidence-building step in India–China relations.

Also Read : Kailash Yatra, River Data And Air Services: India, China Agree To Rebuild Ties With Priority On People-Centric Engagements