For over four months, Indian Army soldiers and Chinese PLA troops are engaged in a stand-off at the Line of Actual Control with China deliberately trying to provoke India

India and China agreed that they should take guidance from the series of consensus of the leaders on developing India-China relations, including not allowing differences to become disputes.

This decision was arrived at during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of SCO foreign ministers meeting in Moscow on Thursday.

While holding a frank and constructive discussion on the developments in the India-China border, both sides, as per the joint press statement, agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

They agreed, therefore, that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

The two Ministers agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.

The two sides also agreed to continue to have dialogue and communication through the Special Representative mechanism on the India-China boundary question.

They also agreed in this context that the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), should also continue its meetings.

The Ministers agreed that as the situation eases, the two sides should expedite work to conclude new confidence building measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquillity in the border areas.