India and China on Friday reviewed the situation on the border in Ladakh, a week after two sides withdrew their troops from the last stand-off site on Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra Hot Springs area.
The latest round of diplomatic level talks under the aegis of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Co-ordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) also agreed to continue discussions to restore normalcy at earliest.
The two countries completed withdrawal of their troops on mid-September from Patrolling Point 15. Giving details here about the talks, the ministry of external affairs said the 25th meeting of WMCC saw participation of Joint Secretary (East Asia) from Ministry of External Affairs and Director General of Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Western Sector of India-China border areas. Recalling the developments since last meeting of WMCC in May 2022, they welcomed the disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) that was carried out in a phased, coordinated and verified manner between September 8 and September 12.
They noted that these steps reflected the understandings between External Affairs Minister and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, including at their recent meeting in Bali in July 2022, the ministry statement said.
The two sides agreed to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC at the earliest so as to create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.
To achieve the objective of resolution of remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (17th) round of the Senior Commanders at the military level at an early date.