India, China agree to resolve remaining issues in eastern Ladakh expeditiously: Joint statement

NEW DELHI: The 12th meeting on Saturday between the Corps Commanders of India and China was described as constructive which involved candid exchange of views. However, there has been no let-up in the standoffs at various places in eastern Ladakh.

The two sides said in a joint statement on Monday that the meeting enhanced mutual understanding. “The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on resolution of remaining areas related to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the western sector of India-China border areas,” said the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The talks’ venue at Chushul lies on the Indian side, with Moldo of China on the opposite. The meeting of the two sides started at 10.30 am and lasted nine hours. It was one of the shortest meetings since June last year.The standoff which began in May 2020 included places at Depsang, Galwan, Gogra, Hotspring, north and south banks of the Pangong lake, and Demchok.

Troop disengagement has taken place at Galwan and from both the banks of the Pangong lake. It was expected that the standoffs at Gogra and Hotspring are “doables’ with only platoon-size strength (around 30 soldiers) from both sides stationed there.The Corps Commanders agreed to “resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols and maintain the momentum of dialogue,” said the joint statement.

During the meeting, as per the statement, the two sides also agreed that in the interim, they will continue their efforts in ensuring stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity.The meeting was held in the backdrop of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi meeting at Dushanbe in Tajikistan on July 14 on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting.