China and India have continued "constructive communication" to find a mutually acceptable solution to the impasse in eastern Ladakh, said the Chinese Military on Friday, adding that Beijing places "great importance" on relations with New Delhi to jointly safeguard the border.
Indian and Chinese forces are at odds in several parts of eastern Ladakh, despite both sides having completed withdrawal from various regions after intensive diplomatic and military discussions.
"The two sides had positive, in-depth, and constructive communication on resolving the border issues of each other's concern and agreed to reach a mutually acceptable solution at an early date,” Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang told the media at a press briefing on Thursday.
"China attaches great importance to China-India military-to-military ties and hopes that both countries will work towards a common goal, enhance mutual trust, properly settle differences, and collectively maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," said the Chinese Ministry spokesperson.
The negotiations on February 19 marked the 21st session of talks between the two forces to address the eastern Ladakh standstill, which will enter its fourth year in May this year.
The Chinese military intervention in May 2020 resulted in the Galwan Valley fight, which was India and China's most significant military confrontation in decades.
According to the Chinese military, the two sides have agreed to disengage at four sites — the Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Jianan Daban (Gogra) — resulting in a de-escalation of hostilities along the border.
However, the discussions were stalled over achieving a similar agreement in Depsang and Demchok, where the Indian side urged for the settlement of two outstanding concerns.
Both parties released different news releases following the 21st session of discussions.
Although the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said, that following the current negotiations, both parties have agreed to keep in contact about the next steps through political and military institutions.
"The discussions built on the previous rounds, seeking complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in eastern Ladakh as an essential basis for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas," the ministry said in a statement.
The MEA stated that the two parties discussed this in a "friendly and cordial" tone.
China's Ministry of National Defence said in Beijing that the two militaries engaged in good, in-depth, and constructive talks to resolve border issues of mutual concern.
Follow us
