Hong Liang, director-general for Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Gourangalal Das, joint secretary of the East Asia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs of India co-chaired the 34th Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in New Delhi on Wednesday. 

Representatives from the foreign affairs, defense and immigration departments of both countries attended the meeting, according to a press release by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The meeting is not merely a technical dialogue — it sends an important signal: Both sides are committed to using this mechanism to further implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, stabilize current relations and steadily advance the improvement and warming of China-India relations, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. 

Guided by the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, the two sides focused on in-depth communication regarding the implementation of the outcomes of 23rd meeting of Special Representatives for China-India Boundary Question and agreed to jointly prepare for the 24th meeting. 

The two sides spoke positively of the progress made in managing the border situation since last year and held candid and in-depth discussions on issues such as boundary negotiations, border management, institutional development, and cross-border exchanges and cooperation, reaching preliminary consensus. Both sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels and jointly uphold peace and tranquility in the border areas.

During their stay in New Delhi, the Chinese delegation also paid a courtesy call to Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri. 

Qian said that, since its establishment, this working mechanism has been alternately held by both sides in their respective countries. It has played a positive role in maintaining stability and exercising control over the border situation. The mechanism not only reflects equal cooperation in form but, more importantly, it has enhanced political mutual trust and helped prevent the escalation of potential risks.

"It not only ensures timely communication on border affairs and helps maintain peace and stability along the border, but also reflects an improvement in China-India relations," Tian Guangqiang, an assistant research fellow with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. 

Qian, echoing Tian's comments, said that the current meeting takes place against the backdrop of gradually improving China-India relations. 

Senior officials such as the foreign ministers, defense ministers and national security advisers have repeatedly expressed their support for improving bilateral ties. This continued consultation at the working level is part of the effort to follow through on that strategic guidance, Qian said. 

Five years ago, in February 2020, India suspended Chinese citizens' tourist visa applications. However, the South Asian country announced on Wednesday that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025.

Tian viewed this move as a positive signal. Although some challenges remain, such as the Modi administration's lingering distrust toward China, both sides still demonstrate determination and confidence in improving ties and are taking steps in that direction, Tian added.

Tian said as the one who initiated the deterioration in bilateral relations, India needs to make greater efforts to improve ties and work with China toward the same goal.

A Chinese student sports body on Thursday condemned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for attempt to use sports for their secessionist agenda at the ongoing FISU World University Games in Germany.

During the taekwondo men's team medal ceremony on Wednesday, officials from Taiwan's sports authorities tried to distribute a message to members of the Chinese Taipei delegation in violation of FISU protocols, said the China Student Sports Federation.

The Chinese delegation intervened, during which one staff member was injured due to aggressive behavior by the Taiwan side, it added.

The FISU has expressed support for the Chinese delegation and urged relevant Taiwan officials to abide by Olympic protocol in regulating the delegation's conduct, said the federation.

Noting that the incident runs counter to the expectations of people across the Taiwan Strait, the federation said such political manipulation by the DPP authorities, driven by the party's own interests, lacks public support and is doomed to fail.

The United States should be ashamed of its repeated groundless accusations against China at the UN Security Council this week, said a Chinese envoy on Friday.

Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, rejected the U.S. representative's accusation against China for the so-called export of dual-use materials to Russia.

"China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to it. China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and has always strictly controlled the export of dual-use materials, including drones," Geng told the Security Council. "We urge the United States to stop shifting blame over the Ukraine issue and creating confrontation, and instead, to make concrete efforts to promote ceasefire and peace talks."

On Tuesday, the U.S. representative took advantage of an open debate of the council to attack and accuse China over the South China Sea issue. On Thursday, when the council held an open meeting on cooperation between the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the U.S. representative, once again, started provocation by slandering and smearing China on Xinjiang-related issues.

"Within a single week, the United States has made groundless accusations against China at the Security Council multiple times. This has proved that what the United States cares about is not maintaining international peace and security or promoting the political settlement of wars and conflicts, but rather using this council to attack and suppress other countries and engage in political manipulation to serve its own agenda," said Geng.

"As a permanent member of the Security Council, the United States should be ashamed of and disgraced by its own words and deeds," he said. "China urges the United States to change course at an early date and engage constructively in the work of the Security Council."

On the issue of Ukraine, China has been calling for a ceasefire and is committed to promoting peace talks, Geng said, adding that China's efforts have been widely recognized by the international community.

"For the United States, I would like to say that the international community needs solidarity and cooperation instead of division and confrontation in the face of so many hotspot conflicts and a complex international situation," he said.