India, China to set up Working Mechanism on consultation, coordination on border affairs

India and China today agreed to establish a Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs to deal with important border affairs related to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas between the two countries.

 

An agreement in this regard was signed at the 15th round of talks between the Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries on the Boundary Question -- National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor Dai Binggou held here over the last two days.

 

An official press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after the meeting said the two sides continued their discussions on a framework for a resolution of the Boundary Question.

 

The SRs agreed that they would prepare a joint agreed record for their Governments on the progress made so far in the SR Talks on the Boundary Question.

 

The SRs also discussed other bilateral, regional and global issues. "The discussions were wide ranging, productive, forward-looking and marked by a commonality of views on many issues," the release said.

 

Making a positive appraisal of the current state of bilateral relations, the SRs noted the importance of regular high-level exchanges and strengthened cooperation across different areas between the two countries.

 

The SRs agreed that there was scope for greater coordination on regional and global issues. They agreed that the next round of SR talks will be held in China.

 

The Chinese Special Representative called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the day today.

 

The two sides agreed to set up the Working Mechanism on border affairs in the firm belief that respecting and abiding by the Line of Actual Control (LoAC), pending a resolution of the Boundary Question between the two countries, as well as maintaining and strengthening peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas is very significant for enhancing mutual trust and security between the two countries, for resolving the Boundary Question at an early date and for building the India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

 

The two sides also expressed their desire to materialize the spirit of the Agreement between India and China on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LoAC, signed on 7th September 1993, the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the Military Field Along the LoAC signed on 29th November 1996 and the Protocol on Modalities for the Implementation of CBMs along the LoAC signed on 11th April 2005.

 

Today's agreement is also aimed at timely communication of information on the border situation, for appropriately handling border incidents and for earnestly undertaking other cooperation activities in the India-China border areas.

 

The Working Mechanism will be headed by a Joint Secretary-level official from the Ministry of External Affairs of India and a Director General-level official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and will be composed of diplomatic and military officials of the two sides.

 

The Working Mechanism will study ways and means to conduct and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between military personnel and establishments of the two sides in the border areas. It will explore the possibility of cooperation in the border areas that are agreed upon by the two sides.

 

The Working Mechanism will undertake other tasks that are mutually agreed upon by the two sides but will not discuss resolution of the Boundary Question or affect the Special Representatives Mechanism. It will address issues and situations that may arise in the border areas that affect the maintenance of peace and tranquility and will work actively towards maintaining the friendly atmosphere between the two countries.

 

The Working Mechanism will hold consultations once or twice every year alternately in India and China. Emergency consultations, if required, may be convened after mutual agreement.

 

The Agreement shall come into force on the date of its signature. It may be revised, amended, or terminated with the consent of the two sides. Any revision or amendment, mutually agreed by the two sides, shall form an integral part of this Agreement.

 

NNN