India and China convened the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs in Beijing on Wednesday. The discussions, as per a statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, focused on reviewing the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and exploring measures to ensure continued peace and stability in border areas.
Focus on Border Management and Normalisation of Ties
The Ministry of External Affairs described the talks as "constructive and forward-looking." Both nations expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in maintaining peace and tranquility along the border, which has facilitated a gradual normalization of bilateral relations. The dialogue also covered key issues such as border delimitation, border management, institutional mechanisms, and cross-border cooperation. India emphasized the importance of convening an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-Border Rivers to address shared water resource concerns.
Regular Diplomatic and Military Engagement to Continue
India and China agreed to sustain regular diplomatic and military-level exchanges through existing frameworks, including those established during the 24th Special Representatives (SR) talks. Both sides committed to substantive preparations for the next Special Representatives meeting, scheduled to be hosted in China. During the visit, the Indian delegation head also met Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and paid a courtesy call on Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.
