Senior Indian and Chinese military commanders have agreed to stop the further buildup of troops along their fast-militarizing disputed border in the mountainous Ladakh region where the two Asian giants have for months been locked in a bitter standoff, the Indian military said on Tuesday.
In a statement, India’s defense ministry said the two sides have also agreed to “strengthen communication on the ground” and “avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments” along the contested, long border known as the Line of Actual Control.
However, it did not mention any breakthrough during the talks about the troops’ disengagement.
On Tuesday night, India’s defense ministry, which called it a “joint” statement by India and China, said the two sides have agreed to “stop sending more troops to the frontline.”
It said the two countries will hold a seventh round of military commander-level talks “as soon as possible” and “jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, said that the nation has no intention to indulge in either ‘cold war or a hot one’ with any other country during his annual address at the 75th-anniversary gathering of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
While denoting China as the ‘largest developing country’ in the world that is committing to remain peaceful, Jinping tried to revamp the image of his country by saying that it will ‘never seek’ hegemony or expansion of influence.
The Chinese Communist Party has been on the receiving end of the backlash from many nations with the most prominent criticism by US President Donald Trump’s government.
In the UNGA debate, the Chinese President assured that his government will continue to narrow down on the budding differences and also resolve disputes only through dialogue and negotiation.