China's Wang Yi urges stable relations with India amid border tension

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in March. DrSJaishankar / Twitter

China's top diplomat Wang Yi told the Indian Foreign Minister that bilateral ties need to be stabilised, as the two Asian neighbours searched for ways to ease tensions along their vast border.

On the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Mr Wang told Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that mutual support between the two nations is needed instead of suspicion, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

India and China share a 3,800km frontier, much of it poorly marked, and fought a brief but bloody war over it in 1962.

Since the 1990s ties have improved after a series of border agreements and China is now India's second-largest trading partner.

A setback in 2020, however, when 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand fighting during a border clash, spurred both militaries to fortify positions and deploy large numbers of troops.

Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have helped to ease tensions, but New Delhi has described the situation on the border as fragile and dangerous.

China and India need to work together to find a solution to border issues acceptable to both sides, Mr Wang told Mr Jaishankar during their meeting on Friday.

Indian Army soldiers at the border in Arunachal Pradesh state. AFP

"The two sides should support each other and accomplish things together, rather than wear each other down or suspect each other," Mr Wang said.

India and China should not let specific issues define their overall relationship, he said.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of military commander-level talks on border issues soon, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Since 2020, New Delhi has also ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. It has also intensified scrutiny of investments by Chinese firms.

Mr Wang urged a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment.