Ahead of Sunday’s meeting of the fourth round of the border working mechanism, China has said it was ready to work with India to maintain peace and tranquillity along the boundary.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said the boundary mechanism had, over the past three rounds of talks, “played a positive role in enhancing cooperation and understanding” between governments and enabled “timely treatment of border-related issues and the stabilisation of the border situation.”
The mechanism, officials say, has helped both sides defuse tensions over stand-offs in disputed areas, most notably at Depsang in April where a face-off triggered by a Chinese incursion lasted three weeks. “China is ready to work with India to leverage this working mechanism,” Mr. Hong added, “to truly uphold the long-term peace and tranquillity in border areas, so as to create a sound atmosphere for the final settlement of the boundary question.”