Indian, Chinese troops exchange pleasantries on border

Weeks after a face-off on the border, senior military officers of India and China met and exchanged pleasantries on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) today on the occasion of Chinese National Day, with the Indian army saying the two sides are working to maintain peace.
Two ceremonial Border Personal Meetings were conducted at the Chinese Border Personnel Meeting huts at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in eastern Ladakh to mark the 67 Anniversary of Chinese National Day.
The ceremonial meetings were marked by saluting the National flag of China by both the delegation members, Udhampur-based defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said.

This was followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders which was composed of exchange of greetings, wishes and reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border, he said.
"It was evident (during the meeting) that both the armies are making all efforts to maintain peace and stability in the border areas and this augurs well for the ensuing border talks," Goswami said.
The Indian delegation in Chushul was led by Brigadier R S Raman, while in DBO, it was led by Colonel B S Uppal, he said.

The Chinese delegations were led by Senior Colonel Fan Jun in Chushul and Colonel Song Zhang Li in DBO.

"This continuing interaction between border troops of both nations has created an environment of mutual trust and bonhomie along the Line of Actual Control," he said.
This came weeks after the troops of the two countries had a face-off on the LAC in Ladakh, the same area where People's Liberation Army had pitched tents in April, 2013 that had led to a three-week long stalemate.
The Chinese troops had built a temporary hut in Burtse, north of Ladakh, which was demolished by the ITBP and Army jawans on September 11.
The Chinese troops had made attempts to push the Indian troops back but these were thwarted.

India and China share over 4,000 km of LAC. China claims 38,000 sq km in Jammu and Kashmir sector besides approximately 90,000 sq km of territory in Arunachal Pradesh.