India and China Assess LAC Situation, Plan for Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Resumption
Click to start listening
Synopsis
India and China conducted a thorough review of the LAC situation and discussed resuming cross-border cooperation, including the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, during the 33rd WMCC meeting in Beijing. Both nations agreed on measures to strengthen diplomatic and military ties.
Key Takeaways
- India and China reviewed the LAC situation comprehensively.
- Early resumption of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra is planned.
- The meeting was held in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
- Both nations agreed on enhancing border management.
- Direct air services are set to resume soon.
Beijing, March 25 (NationPress) On Tuesday, India and China conducted an extensive review of the circumstances along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border regions, as well as discussing the early revival of cross-border collaborations, which include trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. This discussion took place during the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing.
The Indian team was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while the Chinese delegation was headed by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting, as indicated by the MEA, was conducted in a “positive” and “constructive” environment.
“Maintaining peace and tranquility on the border is essential for the smooth progression of overall bilateral relations. Both sides examined various measures and proposals to implement the decisions made during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives concerning the India-China boundary issue in Beijing in December 2024 and to promote effective border management,”
according to a statement released by the MEA.
“Both parties concurred on reinforcing relevant diplomatic and military frameworks to achieve this goal. They also shared perspectives on the early resumption of cross-border collaboration and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra,”
the statement continued.
During the discussions, both nations committed to collaborating closely to prepare thoroughly for the forthcoming meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), which is scheduled to take place in India later this year. The head of the Indian delegation also made a courtesy visit to Hong Lei, China's Assistant Foreign Minister.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had previously traveled to Beijing on January 26-27 for a session of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between the two countries, after which they declared their intention to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025.
The meeting aimed to evaluate the state of India-China bilateral relations, as agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan last October.
During their talks, Foreign Secretary Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong agreed on implementing certain people-centric measures to stabilize and rebuild relations.
Both sides also agreed, in principle, to reinstate direct air services between the two nations, with the relevant technical authorities from both sides negotiating an updated framework for this purpose at the earliest opportunity.
