The two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground


India and China had in-depth discussions for disengagement at the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh during the 16th round India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting held on Sunday.

"Building on the progress made at the last meeting on 11th March 2022, the two sides continued discussions for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in a constructive and forward looking manner," said a joint press release issued on Monday.

The two sides had a "frank and in-depth exchange of views" in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, the release said.

The meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side.

According to the joint press release, the two sides reaffirmed that the resolution of remaining issues would help in restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations.

In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector.

"The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest," the press release said.

The commander-level talks came less than a fortnight after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and called for an early resolution of all the outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

The two had met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Bali, Indonesia on July 7.

Last week, interacting with the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, EAM Jaishankar said there had been "very substantial disengagement" in the last year and discussions were still ongoing.

He also emphasized that India had "been very clear and very effective in ensuring that no attempt to change the status quo unilaterally on the Line of Actual Control will be countenanced by us".