NEW DELHI, Aug 29:
India and China held the 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing today, during which they decided to jointly uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in border areas in accordance with the bilateral mechanisms.
India also reiterated that restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are the essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.
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The Indian readout said: Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation, while the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Ocean Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In line with the guidance provided by two Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Astana and Vientiane in July 2024 to accelerate their discussion, and building on the WMCC meeting held last month, the two sides had a frank, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to narrow down the differences and find early resolution of the outstanding issues. For this, they further agreed for intensified contact through diplomatic and military channels.
“In the meantime, they decided to jointly uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two Governments.
“It was reiterated that restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for LAC are the essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations. “The leader of the Indian delegation also called on the Vice Minister in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” The 30th WMCC meeting was held on July 31st in New Delhi during which India has stressed that “Restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations”.
Bilateral ties between the two nations deteriorated sharply in 2020 after violent clashes between their troops in the high-altitude Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region in June, that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, and an unspecified number of Chinese casualties.
Both sides have held several rounds of talks to resolve the boundary issue, with troops massed on either side as well as upgraded infrastructure. India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border – much of it poorly demarcated. (UNI)
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