New Delhi (NVI): The Chinese foreign ministry today said that during the military-level meeting held at Moldo yesterday, India and China agreed to take necessary measures to “cool down” the situation at the Line of Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh through dialogue and consultation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the Lieutenant General level talks show that “China and India are willing to resolve differences, handle the situation and de-escalate tension through dialogue and consultation.”
“On the basis of the consensus reached at the first military chiefs’ meeting, the two sides had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on prominent issues in the status quo of control and management in border areas and agreed to take necessary measures to ‘cool down’ the situation,” Zhao said at a press briefing.
The first meeting had taken place on June 6 at the same place, a week before the violent clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.
“China and India also agreed to maintain communication and work together to promote peace in the border areas,” Zhao added.
Earlier today, defence sources said that was a ‘mutual consensus to disengage’ in Eastern Ladakh, at the Corps Commander level talks held between India and China yesterday.
Sources said that the talks were held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. They said that modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both sides.
In the June 6 meeting, the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and the Chinese side was led by South Xinjiang Military District Commander Major General Liu Lin.
In the worst-ever flare-up between the two armies at Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 1967, Indian and Chinese troops clashed with each other at Galwan Valley in Ladakh after the latter refused to remove a tent as part of what was agreed in June 6 meeting.
Since early May 2020, the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area, according to the Indian foreign ministry. “This had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols,”’ said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava recently.
-ARK
