Ajit Doval is a ray of hope says China amidst Doklam standoff

Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face- off in Doklam area.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to China will be important to ease tensions amidst the Doklam standoff an article in the Global Times has said. A Chinese analyst while making comments in the report said that Doval's visit may be key and would serve as an opportunity to ease India-China tensions.

Doval is scheduled to visit China on July 27 and 28. He would take part in the BRICS summit and will also meet with his counterpart. The meeting is hosted by his Chinese counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi. It is part of a series of meetings of officials from BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - ahead of this year's summit of the five-member bloc of emerging countries in Xiamen city in September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the summit.

Ma Jiali, a research fellow at the China Reform Forum thinktank, said "China would lodge solemn representation with the Indian side during Doval's visit, hoping it could take measures to ease the tension. India may make some requests as a bargaining chip for its pulling out troops," Ma, who specialises in India-China studies, said. He, however, cautioned that if the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the issue, the China-India ties would be severely damaged.

Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face- off in Doklam area in the southernmost part of Tibet in an area also claimed by Indian ally Bhutan for over a month after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area.

OneIndia News