The Joint Working Group (JWG) was the first official bilateral administrative mechanism formed post the 1962 boundary war by India and China to discuss the boundary question with the aim of finding a solution. It was officially announced in a joint press communique in Beijing on 23 December 1988. A total of fifteen meetings of the JWG were held between 1989 and 2005. The last meeting was held on 30–31 March 2005.
While the JWG was not able to resolve the boundary question, it was an important bilateral mechanism through which India and China gradually resolved certain aspects of the border problem. A "hotline" was set up between military commanders, border posts were opened, mechanisms for conveying troop positions were just some of the incremental changes accomplished.
Background
The relevant part of the joint press communique reads:
The JWG would be led by the Indian foreign secretary and the Chinese deputy foreign minister. The JWG had a three-point mandate, summarized as, make recommendations and maintain border peace pending a final solution utilizing the expertise of military experts, communications experts, legal experts etc.
Rounds
30 June–4 July 1989
30–31 August 1990
12–14 May 1991
20–21 February 1992
27–29 October 1992
24–27 June 1993
6–7 July 1994
18–20 August 1995
16–18 October 1996
4–5 August 1997
26–27 April 1999
28–29 April 2000
31 July–1 August 2001
21–22 November 2002
30–31 March 2005
See also
India China border agreements
1988: Joint press communique, 23 December
Confidence building measures
1993: Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement
1996: Agreement on Military Confidence Building Measures
2005: Protocol for the Implementation of Military Confidence Building Measures
Political measures
2003: Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation
2005: Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question 2012: Agreement on the Establishment of a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs 2013: Border Defence Cooperation Agreement 2020: 5 point statement