Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji in Beijing on Monday, who was in China for China-Bhutan boundary talks. 

Wang said that China and Bhutan enjoy a profound traditional friendship. The conclusion of boundary negotiations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan fully serve the long-term and fundamental interests of the Bhutanese state and nation. China is willing to work with Bhutan to meet each other halfway, seize the historical opportunity, complete this important process as soon as possible, and develop China-Bhutan friendly relations in legal form, he noted.

The border between China and Bhutan is more than 600 kilometers long. Disputed areas are mainly located on the western and northern parts of the border, covering about 5,000 square kilometers, according to analysts.

Boundary negotiations started in 1984 and lasted for nearly 40 years before the two signed a memorandum of understanding on a Three-Step Roadmap in 2021.

The latest 13th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the China-Bhutan Boundary Issues was held in Beijing in August. 

Both sides agreed to expedite and take simultaneous steps to implement the Three-Step Road Map. One of the important outcomes of the 13th EGM is the establishment of the Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation of China-Bhutan Boundary which held its first meeting on the sidelines of the 13th EGM.

Tandi on Monday said that the relationship between Bhutan and China has traditionally been friendly, and thanked China for its strong support and assistance to his country. Bhutan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to work together with China to strive for an early resolution of the border issue and promote the political process of establishing diplomatic relations. 

Wang also stated that China always places its neighboring diplomacy in a prominent position in its overall diplomatic agenda and consistently adheres to the principle of equality between large and small countries. China respects the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries, as well as the reasonable wishes and concerns of small and medium-sized countries, he noted. 

China will continue to firmly stand with developing countries, fulfill its international responsibilities, practice true multilateralism, support the democratization of international relations, and oppose all forms of hegemony and bullying, Wang said.

Global Times