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Border peace important for better ties: India to China

Last Updated 22 March 2018, 15:28 IST

In a further sign of positive bilateral engagement, India and China concluded their 11th round of talks on "working and coordination mechanism" for border affairs on Thursday.

Significantly, as a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement emphasised, India "underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas is an important pre-requisite for a further development of bilateral relations between the two countries."

The MEA statement said various confidence-building measures aimed at further enhancing the level of mutual trust and understanding between border personnel were discussed.

The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides exchanged views on ways to improve border management, the statement said.

Both sides also agreed to explore the possibility of strengthening cooperation through exchange of visits and institutionalised dialogue mechanisms in order to promote better understanding and cooperation between the two defence forces, it said.

The Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination for India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas.

It also serves to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.

The Indian delegation was led by Pranay Verma, joint secretary (East Asia) of the MEA while the Chinese delegation was led by Yi Xianliang, director general, department of boundary and oceanic affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the WMCC at a mutually convenient time.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen boosting the process of bilateral engagement, began with the foreign secretary's visit to Beijing.

Modi offered his congratulations to Xi for his re-election and discussed efforts to enhance high-level exchanges and deepen bilateral cooperation.

Xi appreciated Modi's congratulations, even as the Indian Prime Minister said Xi's re-election shows that he enjoys the support of the whole Chinese nation.

The two leaders also agreed to continue their close consultations on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers' meet on April 24 and possibly have a separate dialogue with her Chinese counterpart. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also due to visit China next month.

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(Published 22 March 2018, 15:28 IST)

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