‘Constructive’: India, China hold talks to resolve standoff at LAC

The bilateral meeting was held in Delhi under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

The MEA described the discussion at the meeting as “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking”, adding both sides agreed on the need to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements and protocols.

The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hong also called on Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, according to the MEA.

Misri has served as India’s ambassador to China. The previous round of WMCC talks were held in Beijing in March.

“Further to discussions between the two foreign ministers in their recent meetings at Astana and Vientiane, the two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a view to finding an early resolution of the outstanding issues,” the ministry said.

“Restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” it said.

“They agreed on the need to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two governments,” it said in a statement.

“The discussion at the meeting was in-depth, constructive and forward-looking. Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum through the established diplomatic and military channels,” it said.

Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the MEA, Gourangalal Das, led the Indian delegation at the 30th meeting of the WMCC.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang held talks on July 25 in Vientiane on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings. The two foreign ministers also had a bilateral meeting in Astana on July 4 on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

India and China have been locked in a border standoff for more than four years now, as more than 50,000 troops on each side are stationed on both sides of the border.