BEIJING, August 25 (HS/RIA Novosti) - India is prepared to resolve border disputes and advance cooperation with China, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday.

India is ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China, properly resolve the border issue, and promote new progress in bilateral relations, Doval was quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as saying during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches great importance to relations with China and admires the significant development achievements of China, Doval also said.

Han emphasized the importance of settling differences and promoting the stable development of China-India relations.

There has been a long-standing territorial dispute between India and China over nearly 60,000 square kilometers (23,166 square miles) of land along the border of India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as a section of mountainous territory in northern Kashmir. The Line of Actual Control, which serves as the border between the countries in this region, runs through the highland region of Ladakh. In the fall of 1962, the dispute escalated into a border war.

A new escalation of conflict in Ladakh occurred in May 2020, when a series of clashes between the militaries of China and India occurred in the Galwan River area, after which New Delhi and Beijing increased their military presence in the region. In February 2021, most of the troops moved to the region were withdrawn, and the parties continued negotiations. In September 2022, India and China carried out a new stage of troop withdrawal on the border, but failed to resolve all issues.

In October 2024, New Delhi and Beijing reached an agreement on patrolling procedures along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. India and China had reportedly completed the disengagement of troops in the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar