Chinese, Indian troops jointly celebrate New Year at Bumla

Indian and Chinese troops jointly celebrated New Year at Bumla on the India-Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh in sub-zero temperatures, a defence ministry release said Friday.

"Against a backdrop of clear blue sky and sub-zero temperatures, the New Year ringed in a rare bonhomie between Indian and Chinese troops at 16,000 feet, amidst friendly handshakes as soldiers on either side greeted each other and their families," said the release.

The joint new year celebrations saw a get together of soldiers from both sides.

"The Indian and Chinese troops jointly celebrated arrival of the year 2014 at Bumla in a meeting organized by the Eastern Command's Tawang garrison under Gajraj Corps. It is the first time that uniformed personnel from both sides got together at Bumla amidst a cordial atmosphere," it said.

Women officers from both sides also participated in the joint celebrations.

The delegations re-affirmed their commitment in maintaining peace and tranquility along the borders as per Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement (BPTA) and the recently concluded Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA).

The meeting concluded with exchange of sweets.