National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has talked tough with China’s diplomat Wang Yi during their meeting on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS meeting in South Africa's Johannesburg.

The reports said Doval told Yi that the situation along the LAC, since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship between the two countries.?

Doval and Yi are their respective country's special representatives on boundary talks.?

The last special representative-level talks between India and China on the boundary were held in 2019.

The reports said Doval emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations.

Yi said the two sides should enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on consensus and cooperation, overcome obstacles, and bring bilateral relations back on track of sound and stable development as soon as possible, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported.?

He also reportedly stressed that China will never seek hegemony, and stands ready to work with developing countries, including India, to support multilateralism and the democratisation of international relations, and promote the more just and equitable development of international order.

The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries, but also for the region, and the world.

The meeting came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Mr Wang in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and discussed outstanding issues relating to peace and tranquility in border areas.

India has been locked in a military standoff with China for more than three years.

India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area.
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