India security chief visits China for border talks

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on Monday for a two-day visit for talks on the countries' disputed Himalayan border, India's foreign ministry said.

The ministry said Doval, India's Special Representative on the India-China Boundary Question, will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday. It said he will also meet Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the two sides would continue in-depth communication on the boundary question and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in border areas.

India and China share a 3,500-kilometre border and have accused each other in the past of trying to seize territory. The two sides have held repeated border talks since a deadly 2020 clash.

The visit comes ahead of a September 12-13 BRICS summit in New Delhi, which India hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend. Ties between India and China have gradually improved, including through the resumption of direct flights and border trade.