The unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh were brought up in a conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the fringes of the BRICS summit. The two leaders then agreed to direct their respective officials to “intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation.”
Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra stated during a press briefing on India’s participation in the 15th BRICS meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with other BRICS leaders during the summit.
According to him, PM Modi stressed during his dialogue with the Chinese President that maintaining calm in border regions and adhering to and respecting the LAC are crucial for the normalisation of relations between India and China.
“Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China border areas. Prime Minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship,” Kwatra said.
“In this regard, the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” he added.
The 19th round of Corps Commander Level negotiations between India and China took place earlier this month at the Chushul-Moldo conference location on the Indian side.
The two parties had an extensive conversation about resolving the outstanding concerns along the LAC in the Western Sector, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
“In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, they exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner. They agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas,” the statement said.
Following a standoff between India and China in April 2020 due to the actions of the Chinese army, there has been withdrawal from some friction points along LAC in eastern Ladakh.
