India, China presses for peace, tranquillity in border areas

India and China underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the respective border areas was an important pre-requisite for the further development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The 11th round of the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) for India-China Border Affairs was held in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Indian delegation was led by Pranay Verma, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was led by Yi Xianliang, Director General, Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides exchanged views on ways to improve border management.

Various confidence-building measures were aimed at further enhancing the level of mutual trust and understanding between border personnel were discussed.

India and China also agreed to explore the possibility of strengthening cooperation through exchange of visits and institutionalised dialogue mechanisms in order to promote better understanding and cooperation between the two defence forces. It agreed to hold the next meeting of the WMCC at a mutually convenient time.

The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.