India and China engaged in face-to-face diplomatic discussions on Wednesday to address the remaining areas of contention along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Both countries participated in the talks in a sincere and transparent manner, under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs, reported news agency PTI. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed that the discussions focused on proposals for disengagement, with the aim of restoring peace and tranquillity in the border regions.
The MEA emphasized the significance of achieving peace and tranquillity as a stepping stone towards normalizing bilateral relations, reported PTI. In adherence to existing bilateral agreements and protocols, both parties agreed to convene the 19th round of high-level military talks at the earliest opportunity. Additionally, they committed to maintaining ongoing discussions through military and diplomatic channels.
The meeting marked the 27th session of the WMCC, with the previous meeting held in Beijing on February 22. The Indian delegation was led by the Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese side was represented by the Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prior to this engagement, the 18th round of high-level military talks took place on April 23, during which both sides agreed to maintain close communication and work towards finding mutually agreeable solutions to the outstanding issues in eastern Ladakh.
CHINA’S DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT INDIA FOR SCO MEET
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu visited India to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Li, during which he emphasized the need to resolve all frontier-related matters in accordance with existing agreements.
Meanwhile, on May 4, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted to his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang the importance of resolving the border tensions in eastern Ladakh and ensuring peace and tranquility along the LAC for the sake of bilateral ties.
The border stand-off between India and China began on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. Subsequently, the conflict escalated with the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, representing the most serious military confrontation between the two nations in decades.
After a series of military and diplomatic discussions, both sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake, as well as the Gogra area.