35th WMCC meeting: India, China discuss border management, trans-border rivers

India and China on Wednesday held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs in Beijing.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, both sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and discussed measures to maintain peace and stability in border areas.



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Focus on border management and normalisation of ties

The MEA said discussions during the meeting were “constructive and forward-looking”. Both countries expressed satisfaction over progress made in maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas, which they said had helped advance the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations.

The two sides also discussed issues related to border delimitation, border management, mechanism building and cross-border cooperation. India stressed the need for an early meeting of the next Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-Border Rivers.


Regular diplomatic and military engagement to continue

India and China agreed to maintain regular diplomatic and military-level exchanges through existing mechanisms, including those agreed upon during the 24th Special Representatives (SR) talks.

Both sides also agreed to work towards substantive preparations for the next meeting of the Special Representatives, which is scheduled to be held in China.

During the visit, the head of the Indian delegation also met Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and paid a courtesy call on Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.