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New Delhi: Amid ongoing border standoff between two Himalayan nations, India and China on Thursday agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an “expeditious” manner.
The 18th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on Thursday, wherein they agreed that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.
During the weekly virtual press briefing Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Anurag Srivastava said, “The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the existing situation in the India-China border areas. They reaffirmed that in accordance with the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives (SRs), the two sides will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector.”
Both sides further acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through both the diplomatic and military channels so as to ensure complete disengagement, he said.
In this regard, “they also agreed to continue their ongoing engagements including through the meetings of the WMCC,” Mr Srivastava added.
In the meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.
The meeting between diplomats of the two sides came at a time when military talks on reducing tensions along the LAC have hit a roadblock.
This was the fifth meeting at the diplomatic level since the border standoff erupted in early May.
Five rounds of talks between the corps commanders have already taken place but there was no fruitful breakthrough.
