NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi hold meeting in Hyderabad

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on Friday held a high-level meeting at the historic Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel in Hyderabad. They were accompanied by teams of officials from both the countries.

Media last month reported about the scheduled meeting of the National Security Advisors of India and China in Hyderabad. Reports also said the meeting was meant to discuss measures aimed at improving the bilateral relations that have been under strain in the recent past.

Both Doval and Chinese delegation have arrived at Hyderabad on Thursday. The formal meeting took place on Friday from morning until the afternoon after which both the officials had left the hotel, sources said.

The bilateral ties between the two countries started showing strains after China had put a second technical hold on India's effort to get a UN ban on Masood Azhar, who was accused of master minding the Mumbai terrorist attack among other actions against India. Other actions like China's stand against India's entry into Nuclear Suppler Group(NSG) was also cited as one of the major reasons for the deterioration in the relations.

Doval and Yang had held their last meeting in China in April on these and other matters as they are also the designated Special Representatives mandated to discuss all the contentious issues including the boundary issues.