China confirms pact to resolve border conflict with India

China confirmed on Tuesday it had reached a deal with India over their disputed frontier, without elaborating on whether the pact covered the length of the border or just points where the two sides have been involved in a standoff since 2020.

Relations between the world's two most populous nations have been strained since clashes between their troops on the largely undemarcated frontier in the western Himalayas' Ladakh region four years ago left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday said the regional rivals had reached an agreement on patrolling the border, signalling an end to the military standoff, although China did not immediately confirm the pact.

"China and India recently have maintained close communication on issues related to the China-India border through diplomatic and military channels," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday

"At present, the two sides have reached a solution to the relevant issues, which China views positively," Lin Jian told a regular press briefing.

China would work with the Indian side to implement the pact, Lin added, without going into any specifics.