New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) India and China held the 30th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi today during which the two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a view to finding an early resolution.
India has stressed that “Restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations”.
The meeting comes days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Vientiane on July 25, and both sides agreed on the need to give strong guidance to complete the disengagement process at the border.
A statement on the talks held today said: “The 30th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on July 31 in New Delhi. Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“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.
“Restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.
“They agreed on the need to jointly uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two Governments.
“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.
“The leader of the Chinese delegation also called on Foreign Secretary”.
During their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings on July 25, EAM Jaishankar had stressed that full respect should be ensured for the LAC and past agreements.
In a statement then, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the meeting gave the two ministers an opportunity to review the situation since their last meeting at Astana on the sidelines of the SCO on July 4.
“Their talks focussed on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations,” it said.
“Both Ministers agreed on the need to work with purpose and urgency to achieve complete disengagement at the earliest. Peace and tranquillity on the borders and respect for LAC are essential for normalcy in bilateral relations.
“Both sides must fully abide by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. EAM stressed the importance of the three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity — to our ties,” it said.
“Both sides will hold an early meeting of the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) to take the discussions forward,” it added.
The two ministers also exchanged views on the global and regional situation, it said.
EAM and the Chinese FM had met earlier on July 4 on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana during which EAM had stressed on the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining border areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore peace and tranquillity.
The ties between the two countries nosedived following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. Both sides have so far held 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the standoff.
