China and India have agreed to accelerate negotiations regarding their border disputes and uphold peace and tranquillity in border areas as stand-offs along the Himalayan frontier enter the fourth year. During the 30th round of border talks held in New Delhi on Wednesday, the two sides also agreed to “focus on specific issues related to the China-India border, accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns, and reach a mutually acceptable solution” soon, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement shortly after midnight on Thursday.
After the meeting, India’s External Affairs Ministry said the two sides had reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) “with a view to finding an early solution to the outstanding issues”.
“Restoration of peace and tranquillity and respect for the LAC is an essential basis for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” it said, adding that the meeting on Wednesday was “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking”.
Meanwhile, they agreed to “maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels, strengthen the construction of negotiation mechanisms, accelerate the negotiation process, turn the page on the border situation at an early date, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-India relations,” it said.
Beijing has long maintained that border disputes should not dominate or define the entire bilateral relationship, while India has insisted that the border issue is fundamental to restoring ties. The most recent round of border talks was co-chaired by Hong Liang, Director General of the Foreign Ministry’s Boundary and Oceanic Department, and Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary from the External Affairs Ministry. Representatives from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Immigration from both sides also participated in the meeting.
Last week, there were significant discussions about the border dispute between India and China. During a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasised the exceptional importance of the bilateral relationship. The External Affairs Minister also expressed concerns about the recent disturbances to peace and tranquillity at the borders, which have affected the relations for the past four years. Jaishankar reiterated that the relationship should be based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
Team BharatShakti
