"New Delhi: Bhutan and China have agreed to establish a joint technical team and to take “simultaneous steps” to expedite the implementation of a ‘three-step roadmap’ that will lead to the demarcation of boundary.

This decision was conveyed in a joint press release which was issued after the 13th expert group meeting (EGM) on the China-Bhutan issue, held in Beijing from August 21 to 24. This was the third meeting of the expert group held this year.

China asserts claims over roughly 764 square kilometre in the northwestern and central regions of Bhutan.

Originally, the dispute was part of border negotiations between India and China. However, direct dialogues between China and Bhutan were initiated in 1984. Since then, over 24 rounds of border talks and 12 rounds of expert-level meetings have taken place.

The joint press noted that based on the consensus reached at the previous expert group meeting, the two sides had “candid, friendly and constructive discussions” on implementing a memorandum of understanding on the three-step roadmap.

“One of the important outcomes of the 13th EGM is the establishment of the Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation of China-Bhutan Boundary which held its first meeting on the sidelines of the 13th EGM,” said the statement.

It added that both sides agreed to “expedite and take simultaneous steps to implement the ‘three-step road map’”."

https://thewire.in/diplomacy/bhutan-china-set-up-technical-team-on-delimitation-of-boundary

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