India, China hold diplomatic talks, agree to maintain peace at LAC
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Issues between India and China met for the 16th time since the standoff at the LAC began in May 2020 in New Delhi.
India and China on Wednesday agreed to maintain peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during separate diplomatic talks despite no signs of a breakthrough towards disengagement at friction points in the Ladakh region.
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border issues (WMCC) met for the 16th time in New Delhi since the standoff at the LAC began in May 2020. The panel last met in Beijing on March 28 and Wednesday's meeting followed two meetings this month between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
After the talks, the two sides agreed to "jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings between the two governments", a foreign ministry statement said.
Following discussions between the two foreign ministers at recent meetings in Astana and Vientiane, the two sides reviewed the current status on the LAC "with a view to early resolution of outstanding issues". The statement further mentioned India's position that overall relations with China cannot be normalised without addressing the disputed border situation and said, "Restoration of peace and tranquility and respect for the LAC are essential foundations for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations."
The statement said the discussions were "in-depth, constructive and forward-looking" but did not provide details. The two sides also agreed to maintain momentum through established diplomatic and military channels.
This was also the 30th meeting of the WMCC since its inception in 2012. The Indian delegation was led by Goorangalal Das, Additional Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese side was headed by Hong Liang, Secretary-General. The meeting was led by the Border and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
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