India-China Talks: 29th Round Addresses Border Disengagement

India-China on Wednesday held its 29th session of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing.

Amid border tensions, India and China held extensive discussions for a complete disengagement of troops standing at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in a military standoff that began in April 2020.

The ongoing border standoff has turned out to be one of the worst episodes in the history of India-China bilateral ties since the 1962 war.

As per the official release, the meeting was co-chaired by the MEA Joint Secretary who led the Indian delegation. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.

The release read, “The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve complete disengagement and resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas.”

Following the meeting, both parties agreed to maintain open diplomatic and military channels to preserve peace and tranquility in the border regions.

The Ministry said, “In the interim, both sides agreed to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels and on the need to uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas following existing bilateral agreements and protocols.”

Earlier on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had criticised China for failing to uphold long-standing agreements with India, resulting in violence and bloodshed in 2020.

The 28th session of the WMCC took place in November last year.

During this meeting, both parties reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.

Also Read: EAM Jaishankar Stresses Traditional Troop Deployment as Key to Normalizing India-China Ties