India, China armies vow to enhance cordial relations, maintain peace along LAC at border meet

Jammu: Days after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's successful trip to China, the armies of both the nations on Sunday held meetings of their senior commanders to enhance cordial relations as well as to boost efforts to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The meetings, held on the Chinese and the Indian side, coincided with the International Labour Day on Sunday. They have agreed to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the two nations.

The meetings took place at Chinese BPM Hut of Moldo and TWD Garrison in Eastern Ladakh, PTI reported citing a defence spokesman.

"The delegation parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC.

"Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to uphold the treaties and agreement signed between the governments to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC," the spokesman said.

At Moldo, the Indian delegation was led by Major General Sudhakar Jee and the Chinese delegation by senior Col Zhan Peng Zhung and at TWD, Lt Col RC Barthwal, SM and Col Song Zhan Li led the Indian and Chinese delegations respectively.

The meetings were marked by saluting the National flags by both sides. It was followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders, the spokesman added.

The meetings come close on the heels of Doval's visit to China in April amid negativity over Beijing’s blocking of India’s bid in the UN to ban Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar.

During his visit, both sides agreed to adhere to “peaceful negotiations” to settle the vexed border issue and reach a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution”.

During the annual 19th round of boundary talks in Beijing, Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi discussed ways to resolve the dispute which has bedevilled the relations between the two countries.

Both the officials had an “extensive, deep and candid” discussion on the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains undemarcated resulting in tensions between the two sides.