New Delhi: India and China on Wednesday vowed to work towards a “roadmap for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding” as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun, stating that “Galwan-type incidents” should be avoided.
The developments as the two leaders met in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on the sidelines of an ASEAN event, weeks after Indian and Chinese armies completed the disengagement of troops from the remaining two face-off points of Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh last month.
Taking to X, the defence minister said, “Had an extremely productive meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Vientiane. We agreed to work together towards a roadmap for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding.”
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Had an extremely productive meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Vientiane. We agreed to work together towards a roadmap for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding. pic.twitter.com/PD7E6hue1h
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 20, 2024
During the delegation-level talks, Singh emphasised that strong relations between India and China would have a positive impact on global peace and prosperity. The two sides also agreed to hold a meeting of the Special Representatives and Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism in the near future.
“The defence minister highlighted the fact that amicable relations between India and China, the two largest nations in the world, would have positive implications for global peace and prosperity,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
India-China standoff in Ladakh
The military standoff in the upper Himalayan region of Ladakh primarily involved five areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC): Galwan, Pangong, Gogra Hot Springs, Depsang, and Demchok.
Ties between India and China were severely impacted and came to a sudden halt following the military clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020. It took four years of diplomatic and military talks between both sides to reach an agreement to restore the status quo to its pre-2020 position.
The disengagement agreement was finally reached on October 21 this year, and both militaries completed the process of retreating to their pre-2020 positions by October 31.
