Bhutan, China sign MoU to expedite boundary talks

Bhutan, China sign MoU to expedite boundary talks

Part of: Prelims and GS II – International Relations 

Context In a step towards resolving their boundary disputes, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a three-step roadmap to help speed up talks, at a meeting of Foreign Ministers held via videoconference.

Key takeaways

• The roadmap had been finalised during the 10th expert group meeting in Kunming in April 2021, and presented for approval to their Governments in Thimphu and Beijing respectively.
• The roadmap “for Expediting the Bhutan-China Boundary Negotiations”, is expected to kickstart the progress on the boundary talks process that has been delayed for five years, first due to the Doklam standoff in 2017 and then by the pandemic. 
• The timing of the agreement is particularly significant for India, given the border talks on their 17-month old standoff at the Line of Actual Control appear to have hit an impasse (no progress) this week.
• The [Bhutan-China] Memorandum of Understanding on the three-step roadmap will provide a fresh impetus to the boundary talks. 
• It is expected that the implementation of this roadmap in a spirit of goodwill, understanding and accommodation will bring the boundary negotiations to a successful conclusion that is acceptable to both sides.