Discussions at meeting of Working Mechanism on India-China Border Affairs were constructive, represent a step forward: MEA
New Delhi, May 29
India on Friday said that the discussions at the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs were constructive and represent a step forward.
Answering queries during the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian side stressed the early meeting of the next expert-level mechanism on transboundary rivers.
He said the two sides discussed issues relating to delimitation, border management, mechanism building and border cooperation.
"A meeting of the WMCC has also taken place in Beijing, China. The meeting was led on our side by our Joint Secretary... the discussions held were constructive and represent a step forward. We will continue to keep you apprised of further specific developments and progress as they unfold in the coming days," he said.
"The two sides discussed issues relating to delimitation, border management, mechanism building and border cooperation. The Indian side stressed the early meeting of the next expert-level mechanism on transboundary rivers as well... we want to take forward all that was agreed during the SR talks, and the two sides also agreed to work together to make substantive preparation for the next round of SR talks, which are to be held in China now," he added.
Answering queries about references to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan, Jaiswal said MEA has given its response and rejected such unwarranted comments.
"Regarding the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, we have released our own statement in response; that constitutes one distinct issue. As for the WMCC, that is a separate matter entirely. With respect to the statement concerning China, we have publicly articulated our perspective on this issue for everyone to see, and we have made our stance public," he said.
The 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on May 27 in Beijing.
The Indian delegation was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A MEA release had said that the discussions were constructive and forward-looking.
The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas. They expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas, which has enabled progress towards gradual normalization of bilateral relations.
"The two sides discussed issues pertaining to delimitation, border management, mechanism building and cross-border cooperation. The Indian side stressed on early meeting of the next Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers," the release said.
It said both sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts at the diplomatic and military levels through mechanisms including those that were agreed as part of outcomes of 24th SR Talks.
The two sides also agreed to work together to make substantive preparation for the next meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), to be held in China.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every few months we hear about "constructive discussions" but the ground reality hasn't changed much since the Galwan clash. China keeps building infrastructure on their side while we talk. Kuch toh thos karo yaar - either get military parity or use diplomacy that actually works. But I'll take small steps forward over no progress. 🇮🇳
As an outsider looking in, it's interesting to see India maintain dialogue mechanisms even after the border tensions. The working mechanism for coordination seems like a practical approach. China-Pakistan joint statement mentioning Jammu and Kashmir was clearly unnecessary though. Glad India rejected it firmly.
Honestly, these meetings feel like they're just for show. China has been aggressive on the border, especially in Ladakh. While we talk about "tranquility", they've been building roads and bunkers. We need a stronger stance, not just diplomatic meetings. But I guess keeping communication open is better than nothing.
Good to see both sides talking again. The Special Representatives talks should focus on long-term solutions, not just temporary agreements. Also happy to see India not letting the China-Pakistan reference to Kashmir slide - that's important for our sovereignty. Let's hope this leads to genuine peace and not another Galwan-like situation. 🕊️
India has been patient with China given the history. The transboundary rivers issue is a big deal - China's dams upstream affect millions of Indians. If Beijing is serious about de-escalation, they should engage positively on this. A step forward is welcome, but the path remains long.