India, China agree to sustain communication, pledge to uphold peace amid border dispute
NEW DELHI: As the border row lingers on in eastern Ladakh, top diplomats of India and China met in Beijing for the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) and agreed to “maintain regular contact” through diplomatic and military channels, without any sign of a breakthrough.
“Both sides stressed upon the need to uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs said in a brief statement here on Thursday.
“The two sides had an indepth exchange of views on how to achieve “complete disengagement” and resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control during the WMCC meeting,” the MEA said.
“The meeting was held in Beijing on March 27,” it said in a statement.
Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the MEA led the Indian delegation while the Chinese delegation was led by the Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In the interim, both sides agreed to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels and on the need to uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Thursday said: “Both sides positively evaluated the progress made in the management and control of the situation in the China-India border area, and had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the ideas of work for the next stage.”
“The two sides agreed to focus on the relevant issues on the ground along the border, reach a solution acceptable to both sides as soon as possible, and promote the transition of the border situation into a normalised phase of control and management,” it said.
The 28th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held on November 30 last year.
“Both sides agreed to continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels, improve the mechanism for
Exchange views on complete disengagement, resolving remaining issues along LAC