Officials from India and China had a “ candid and in-depth exchange of views” on the existing situation in the border areas during a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs here today.
The meeting was held three days after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing would continue to work with India to properly manage differences and “jointly uphold the big picture of bilateral relations”.
A readout by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols. “The two sides were in agreement that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” it stated.
Sources say while Chinese troops have disengaged and moved back from the Galwan valley and Hot Springs, they are yet to vacate Pangong Tso’s Finger areas, Depsang and Gogra. The MEA said both sides at the meeting resolved to continue to work sincerely towards complete disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector.
The two sides agreed to hold more meetings at diplomatic and military levels to ensure complete disengagement. The Indian delegation was led by Naveen Srivastava, MEA’s Joint Secretary (East Asia).
Incidentally, the MEA had expressed similar sentiments after the last WMCC meeting in late July. It had then stated, “both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for the overall development of bilateral relations”. This formulation was reiterated by the MEA official spokesperson today as well. -TNS
