India’s NSA Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on Monday for a fresh round of talks with Chinese officials on the long running dispute along the Himalayan border, as New Delhi looks to further ease tensions with its powerful neighbour.

Doval, who serves as India’s special representative on the boundary question, is due to meet Chinese FM Wang Yi on Tuesday. He is also expected to meet Chinese VP Han Zheng during his two day visit, according to AFP

The talks come as both countries seek to build on a gradual improvement in relations following the deadly military clash in 2020, which sharply strained ties and led to a prolonged stand off between their troops.

China’s foreign ministry said the two sides would hold “in depth communication” on the boundary issue in line with understandings reached by their leaders. Beijing said the priority remained maintaining peace and stability in the border areas.

India and China share a disputed frontier stretching roughly 3,500 kilometres. Both sides have previously accused the other of attempting to alter the status quo along the frontier.

The latest discussions also carry wider diplomatic significance, with India preparing to host the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Indian officials are keen for Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the gathering, where trade, the Middle East and changes in the global order are expected to dominate discussions.

Relations have shown some signs of improvement in recent months, including the resumption of direct flights and steps towards restoring border trade.

However, mistrust remains. India’s opposition recently raised concerns over reports of an encounter between Indian and Chinese patrols in Arunachal Pradesh. The government dismissed the reports.

China continues to claim Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India maintains that the state is an integral part of the country.

The Beijing talks will therefore be closely watched for any indication of whether the recent thaw can translate into lasting progress on the border dispute.