China’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will travel to India next week for high-level talks on their disputed Himalayan frontier, Beijing confirmed Saturday. The visit comes as both countries weigh steps to revive cross-border trade and rebuild strained ties after years of confrontation.

Wang will be in New Delhi from Monday to Wednesday at India’s invitation for the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Meeting on the boundary question, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

While trade across the icy Himalayan passes has historically been modest, any move to restart exchanges would carry symbolic weight after a deadly 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops that froze relations and halted border commerce.

Indian media had already speculated on Wang’s arrival, which New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday. He is scheduled to meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and hold separate talks with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who himself visited Beijing in July.

Wider context

The two Asian giants, both major economic powers, have vied for influence across South Asia for decades. But frictions have deepened in recent years, compounded by the 2020 border violence and wider geopolitical turmoil spurred by US President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Recent diplomatic exchanges suggest efforts are underway to recalibrate ties. Officials on both sides have floated the resumption of border trade, while agreements on restoring direct flights and issuing tourist visas are seen as steps toward normalization.

Wang’s visit is expected to test whether Beijing and New Delhi can convert cautious diplomatic gestures into substantive progress on the long-running border dispute.

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