Beijing, Oct 9 : Senior Indian and Chinese officials have held in-depth talks here and reviewed measures to avoid stand offs between their troops along the disputed border amid concerns in India over recurring incidents of incursions by the Chinese soldiers.
“The two sides reviewed the security situation at the border areas as well as the implementation of the confidence building measures over the past one year and had in-depth exchange of views on topics concerning peace and stability of the border areas between the two countries,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) consisting of officials from the foreign ministries and militaries of both the countries held talks here yesterday and today to discuss border related issues.
The Indian delegation, headed by Joint Secretary Pradeep Kumar Rawat left for home today.
The Chinese side was headed by Ouyang Yujing, Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The Indian officials declined to comment on the talks.
The WMCC talks were held in the backdrop of tensions between the two sides over the surveillance hut with cameras placed by Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Burtse region which was removed by the Indian troops stating that it was within the Indian side of the LOC.
Chinese military termed it as a violation of the consensus reached by the leaders of both sides.
Last month China’s defence spokesman, Wu Qian told the media that jointly maintaining peace and tranquillity of India-China border is an important consensus reached between the leaderships of the two countries and also a solemn commitment and promise made by the two sides.
“We ask the Indian army to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two governments and refrain from taking any unilateral actions which will effect the situation in the border areas,” he said.
In her media briefing today, Hu said two sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity at the border areas and agreed to further enhance communication and coordination in accordance with the census reached by the leaders of the two countries.
The two sides have agreed to work on measures to build mutual trust and promote bilateral cooperation in the border areas so as to safeguard peace stability at the border areas, she said.
Since 2013, both the armies had several face off starting with Depsang in Ladakh during which Chinese troops pitched tents ahead of the crucial visit of Premier Li Keqiang to India.
A similar face off took place at Chumar in Ladakh during Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s visit to India in 2014, which was resolved after several weeks of talks. (NEWS Agency)
