Chinese Scholar Says India-China Structural Differences Persist
Hu Shisheng Says India-China Border Talks Should Focus on Stability
Hu Shisheng expects India-China border efforts to prioritise institutionalising stability rather than pursuing an immediate dramatic settlement.
25th round of SR talks:** India and China are holding the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks on the boundary question.
Key participants:** India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are leading the discussions in Beijing.
Focus on stability:** Chinese scholar Hu Shisheng said the immediate priority would be to “institutionalise stability” in bilateral relations.
Structural differences remain:** Despite efforts to improve relations, major differences between India and China have not disappeared.
Border remains important:** The boundary dispute and maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control remain central issues in the relationship.
Broader relations under review:** Doval and Wang are also expected to take stock of the overall state of India-China ties.
Xi Jinping’s expected visit:** The talks come ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India next month for the BRICS Summit.
First visit in seven years:** Xi’s expected India visit would be his first to the country in seven years.
Gradual improvement:** The latest discussions reflect efforts by both countries to gradually stabilise and rebuild bilateral engagement.
No immediate dramatic settlement:** According to Hu Shisheng, the priority is likely to be managing differences and institutionalising stability rather than seeking an immediate major settlement.
India-China Talks to Focus on ‘Institutionalising Stability’ Amid Structural Differences
Ahead of talks in Beijing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, leading Chinese strategic affairs scholar Hu Shisheng said the immediate focus between the two countries would be on “institutionalising stability” in bilateral relations, even as “structural differences” continued to remain.
India and China are holding the 25th round of talks between the Special Representatives (SRs) on the boundary question. The discussions are being led by Doval and Wang, who is also a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. The meeting comes at an important stage in India-China relations, with both sides attempting to maintain stability along the border while gradually improving broader bilateral engagement.
Hu Shisheng, a prominent Chinese scholar focusing on South Asia, said the two countries were unlikely to immediately pursue a dramatic or comprehensive settlement of their differences. Instead, he indicated that the emphasis would be on creating mechanisms and arrangements that can help preserve stability and prevent tensions from escalating.
The Special Representatives’ dialogue has traditionally provided an important channel for India and China to discuss the long-standing boundary dispute. The latest meeting assumes additional significance as relations between the two countries have been undergoing a gradual adjustment following years of tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
The discussions are also expected to cover the overall state of bilateral relations. Both sides are likely to assess progress in rebuilding engagement in areas affected by the prolonged tensions, while continuing to manage unresolved differences.
The timing of the talks is particularly significant because Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India next month for the BRICS Summit. If the visit takes place, it would mark Xi’s first visit to India in seven years and could provide an important opportunity for the leadership of the two countries to further stabilise relations.
The talks therefore come at a sensitive but potentially important moment for India-China relations. While the two countries continue to face significant strategic and boundary-related differences, the emphasis on stability could help create conditions for sustained diplomatic engagement. The expected BRICS Summit visit by Xi could further test whether the recent efforts to improve ties can translate into greater political understanding and a more predictable relationship.