India-China Political Parameters and Guiding Principles Agreement

The 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles sets the political and substantive principles that India and China must follow while negotiating their boundary settlement. Signed on 11 April 2005, it does not determine the boundary itself; it guides the creation of an agreed framework and the later delineation of the boundary.

Nature of the settlement

• The settlement must be fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable, reached through peaceful and friendly consultations on an equal footing.
• It must be a package settlement covering all sectors of the India-China boundary rather than a settlement confined to an individual sector.
• Neither side may use or threaten force, and the final settlement should not prejudice the due interests of either side.

Principles for determining the boundary

The negotiators must view the boundary question from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship.

• The settlement must consider each side's strategic and reasonable interests and uphold mutual and equal security.
• It must account for historical evidence, national sentiments, practical difficulties, mutual concerns and sensitivities, and the actual conditions in border areas.
• The boundary should follow mutually agreed, well-defined and easily identifiable natural geographical features.
• The settlement must safeguard the due interests of settled populations in border areas.

Negotiating process and interim obligations

The Special Representatives are to continue consultations for an agreed framework. Within that framework, boundary delineation is to use modern cartographic and surveying methods, including joint surveys.

• Pending a final settlement, both sides must strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
• The agreement therefore distinguishes interim management of the Line of Actual Control from the ultimate settlement and delineation of the international boundary.