New Delhi (NVI): A day after top military officials of India and China held meeting over the tense border situation in Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs today issued a statement saying that both the sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in accordance with various bilateral agreements.
Yesterday, a meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander in the Chushul-Moldo region at LAC. In its statement issued today, MEA said the meeting took place in a “cordial and positive atmosphere”.
“Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquility in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” the MEA statement read.
Apart from that, both sides also noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that an early resolution would contribute to the further development of the relationship, it said.
“Accordingly, the two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas,” it added.
At the meeting held at the level of Lt General, the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh. The meeting took place after the ones at lower levels, including at the level of Major General, did not result in any resolution.
The military stand-off in the Ladakh sector was triggered after China objected to the construction of a road by India on its side of the LAC, claiming that it is their territory. Since then, both sides have mobilised thousands of troops who are in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation.
Earlier on Friday, senior officials of the foreign ministries of the two countries held talks and both sides agreed that they should handle the differences through “peaceful discussion”.
The talks were held via video conference between Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Wu Jianghao, Director General in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations including the current developments, the External Affairs Ministry said, clearly referring to the LAC stand-off.
