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 talks took place on Wednesday, March 27, at the 29th session of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing. 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.
Leading the Indian delegation was the Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Director-General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs helmed the Chinese delegation, the ministry said in a statement.
“The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve complete disengagement and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector of India-China border areas,” it said.
Recognising the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border, both sides agreed on the need for ongoing communication via diplomatic and military channels, the statement 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 in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols,” the Ministry said.
READ | India, China Military Commanders Hold 21st Round Of Talks On LAC Standoff, No Progress Achieved
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 remaining friction points between both sides are Depsang in the Daulet Beg Oldi sector and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in the Demchok sector, which has seen no progress so far despite 21 rounds of talks held between both sides at the military level.