NEW DELHI: India and China have agreed to continue military and diplomatic talks to “peacefully” resolve the border issue in accordance with bilateral pacts and guidance provided by leaders of the two countries, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday.
The high-level military dialogue on the Eastern Ladakh standoff was held in Maldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh on Saturday in an attempt to resolve the month-long standoff in the high altitude Himalayan region. The LAC is the de-facto border.
The Indian delegation was led by Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was headed by the Commander of the Tibet Military District Major General Liu Lin.
The external affairs ministry said the meeting took place in a “cordial and positive atmosphere and both sides agreed that an early resolution of the issue would contribute to the further development of the relationship between the two countries”.
“Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” it said in a statement.
About the military talks, the MEA said, “Both sides also noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that an early resolution would contribute to the further development of the relationship.”
