India-China talks to maintain pace over discussion on counter-terrorism and other related fields

India and China have agreed to maintain the pace of their high-level exchanges in counter-terrorism and other fields after “friendly and open” discussions between their National Security Advisors.

NSA Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, State Councillor, concluded their discussions in Hyderabad yesterday in a “friendly, open and cordial environment”, it was officially stated here on Saturday.

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Ministry of External Affairs said their discussions covered a wide agenda spanning bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. It was Yang’s third visit to India in the last two months.

“The two sides agreed to maintain the pace of high-level exchanges in political, economic, defence and counter-terrorism fields.

“They also agreed that the forthcoming high-level engagement in counter-terrorism is yet another manifestation of growing convergence of views of two countries on this pressing challenge facing international community”, it said.

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However, there was no official confirmation on whether the two sides discussed contentious issues such as China blocking Indian’s entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group as also stopping Indian efforts to get JeM chief and Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar getting banned by the UN.

NSA Doval and State Councillor Yang, who are also the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question of India and China respectively, agreed to hold the 20^th Round of Special Representatives Talks on the Boundary Question in India next year.