Editor's Pick: China, Bhutan border talks progress

Picking up after a gap since 2016, Bhutan and China held border talks on October 24- the 25th round of such talks. Both sides have indicated that they seek a deal on boundary demarcation soon. That the long-pending talks are being held indicates that expert groups of officials from both countries have made progress. Bhutan’s Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing; Mr. Wang is also a Politburo member and Director of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission.This marks the first official Chinese visit by Bhutan’s Foreign Minister. The boundary demarcation talks were led by Dr. Dorji and Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of China. Dr. Dorji was accompanied by Bhutanese Ambassador to India Major General V. Namgyel (retd) and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden. A joint press release by the nations stated that they signed a “Cooperation Agreement” to outline the functioning of a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the “Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.” This team had been agreed to in August. Mr. Wang also reportedly expressed hope that the two countries would establish diplomatic relations, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. According to the statement, Dr. Dorji too concurred with Mr. Wang on the boundary issue. Bhutan’s foreign ministry has not issued a separate statement. Round 25 of the boundary talks comes after 24 rounds of talks between 1984 and 2016 and several expert group meetings that yielded a three-step road map to demarcation. Earlier this year, the countries held their first boundary delimitation talks by a joint technical team. In an interview with The Hindu earlier this month, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering disclosed that the China and Bhutan were “inching towards the completion” of a three-step road map on boundary delineation; this included agreeing to the border demarcation during talks, visits to sites along the demarcated line, and final and formal demarcation of the boundary.“We hope to see a line being drawn — this side Bhutan and that side China. We don’t have that right now,” Dr. Tshering said. On the subject of Bhutan’s diplomatic ties with China, Dr. Tshering said “theoretically, how can Bhutan not have any bilateral relations with China? The question is when, and in what manner.” Bhutan so far does not have diplomatic ties with any UN Security Council Permanent Member (P-5) country. India has indicated in the past that it very closely follows the Bhutan-China border talks. Experts in India have indicated that any deal between the two nations that includes a “swap agreement” between Jamparlung and Pasamlung valleys to the north with Doklam to the west would concern the nation. The trijunction Doklam point is close to the slim Siliguri corridor that connects the northeast with the rest of India. The Ministry of External Affairs has not, however, commented on the present visit. The Hindu’s Editorial Crossing a line: On the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra roadshow, the implications Minnows no more: On World Cup and lower ranked teams The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz How many political parties are in the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)? 25 27 23 28 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 25 October 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( China, Bhutan border talks progress Picking up after a gap since 2016, Bhutan and China [held border talks]( on October 24- the 25th round of such talks. Both sides have indicated that they seek a deal on boundary demarcation soon. That the long-pending talks are being held indicates that expert groups of officials from both countries have made progress. Bhutan’s Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing; Mr. Wang is also a Politburo member and Director of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission.This marks the first official Chinese visit by Bhutan’s Foreign Minister. The boundary demarcation talks were led by Dr. Dorji and Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of China. Dr. Dorji was accompanied by Bhutanese Ambassador to India Major General V. Namgyel (retd) and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden. A joint press release by the nations stated that they signed a “Cooperation Agreement” to outline the functioning of a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the “Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.” This team had been agreed to in August. Mr. Wang also reportedly expressed hope that the two countries would establish diplomatic relations, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. According to the statement, Dr. Dorji too concurred with Mr. Wang on the boundary issue. Bhutan’s foreign ministry has not issued a separate statement. Round 25 of the boundary talks comes after 24 rounds of talks between 1984 and 2016 and several expert group meetings that yielded a three-step road map to demarcation. Earlier this year, the countries held their [first boundary delimitation talks]( by a joint technical team. In [an interview with The Hindu]( earlier this month, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering disclosed that the China and Bhutan were “inching towards the completion” of a three-step road map on boundary delineation; this included agreeing to the border demarcation during talks, visits to sites along the demarcated line, and final and formal demarcation of the boundary.“We hope to see a line being drawn — this side Bhutan and that side China. We don’t have that right now,” Dr. Tshering said. On the subject of Bhutan’s diplomatic ties with China, Dr. Tshering said “theoretically, how can Bhutan not have any bilateral relations with China? The question is when, and in what manner.” Bhutan so far does not have diplomatic ties with any UN Security Council Permanent Member (P-5) country. India has indicated in the past that it very closely follows the Bhutan-China border talks. Experts in India have indicated that any deal between the two nations that includes a “swap agreement” between Jamparlung and Pasamlung valleys to the north with Doklam to the west would concern the nation. The trijunction Doklam point is close to the slim Siliguri corridor that connects the northeast with the rest of India.  The Ministry of External Affairs has not, however, commented on the present visit. The Hindu’s Editorial [Arrow][Crossing a line: On the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra roadshow, the implications]( [Arrow][Minnows no more: On World Cup and lower ranked teams]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz How many political parties are in the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)? - 25 - 27 - 23 - 28 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[An India-Canada bonding that is in danger of snapping] An India-Canada bonding that is in danger of snapping]( [[Rate of fatality in road accidents declines marginally in Chennai city limits] Rate of fatality in road accidents declines marginally in Chennai city limits]( [[How do SIM cards work? | Explained] How do SIM cards work? | Explained]( [[The present and future of Dalit politics] The present and future of Dalit politics]( Copyright @ 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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