Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s next month visit to China, the top Army officers of India and China today met in Chushul sector of Eastern Ladakh along with other senior Army officers from both the sides and discussed the issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Brigadier JKS Virk of the Indian Army joined by senior Colonel and other Army officers held the talks with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China officers along the LAC in Chushul sector of Ladakh this afternoon.
Defence spokesperson (Ministry of Defence) Col SD Goswami told the Excelsior that the Army delegations of India and China decided to enhance existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC.
“Both sides sought to build on mutual feeling of upholding the treaties and agreements signed between the Governments of the two countries to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC,’’ Col Goswami said.
Though the Border Personnel Meeting was held on the occasion of Baisakhi festival for joint celebrations by the Indian Army and PLA officials, the occasion was used by the two countries to reiterate their commitment to peace on the LAC and building mutual confidence apart from adhering to treaties and agreements signed between the two countries from time to time, official sources said.
The meeting, which was held in free, congenial and cordial environment, also discussed the local issues in Ladakh sector. The two sides decided to maintain sanctity of border agreements to ensure that no problem cropped up.
During past few months, there has been steep decline in incursions by the Chinese troops in Ladakh sector in view of increase in mutual talks between the two sides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China before May 26 when he would complete one year term in the office. Modi had been invited to visit China during Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s visit to India in September last year and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to China in January this year.
Both the sides were keen to increase cooperation and trade and work out solution to border disputes, which earlier used to arise frequently in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim but they have come down considerably during the past few months.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Border Personnel Meeting at Chushul in Eastern Ladakh also included the ceremonial address by both delegations’ leaders, which was followed by exchange of greetings, wishes, vote of thanks etc.
“This reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the function level on the border,’’ sources said.
A cultural programme showcasing the vibrant Indian culture and traditional grandeur was also organised by the Indian Army on the occasion.
It may be mentioned here that the sweets exchange programmes are not organised between Indo-Pak troops at the Line of Control and BSF-Rangers along the International Border (IB) during Baisakhi festival.
Such programmes on the LoC and IB are confined to Independence and Republic Day and major festivals like Diwali and Eid.
Sources pointed out that the meeting at Chushul sector in Ladakh was held on the request of the Chinese Army.
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