Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2018 shows a view of 6,656-meter-high Mount Kangrinboqe, main peak of the Gangdise Range, in Pulan County of Ali Prefecture, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Photo: Xinhua

Asked to comment on the announcement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on organizing pilgrimages to Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China from June to August this year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Indian pilgrimage to Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Xizang Autonomous Region of China is an important part of the cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

"Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso are the "sacred mountain and lake" for believers of several religions, including Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism. As agreed between China and India, the pilgrimage will resume this summer. The two sides are advancing relevant preparations at the moment," Guo said. 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic ties. China stands ready to work with India to earnestly implement the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries and advance China-India relations on the track of sound and stable development, Guo said.

China and India's special representatives on the boundary question held the 23rd meeting in Beijing on December 18, 2024, reaching a six-point consensus. It was the first meeting of its kind in five years, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

They agreed to further refine the rules for border area management and strengthen the construction of trust-building measures, to continue enhancing cross-border exchanges and cooperation to promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' visits to China's Xizang, and to further strengthen the construction of the special representatives meeting mechanism, according to Xinhua.

The resumption of the annual pilgrimage reflects both sides' positive attitude toward implementing the consensus. Communication and cooperation at various levels are gradually being restored, and the current progress of this resumption can be seen as "a phased achievement," which is also of great significance to India, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times in an earlier interview. 


Global Times