India, China to set up working mechanism on border management

January 17, 2012 04:33 pm | Updated October 18, 2016 12:59 pm IST - New Delhi

TACKLING BORDER ROW: Chinese State Councillor Dai-Bingguo calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday. India and China agreed to set up a working mechanism on the boundary question at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Special Representatives — National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Mr. Dai in the capital. Photo: PTI

TACKLING BORDER ROW: Chinese State Councillor Dai-Bingguo calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday. India and China agreed to set up a working mechanism on the boundary question at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Special Representatives — National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Mr. Dai in the capital. Photo: PTI

A day after beginning talks on the boundary question, India and China on Tuesday agreed to set up a working mechanism on border management to deal with important affairs related to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

The working mechanism, mooted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, was finalised here at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Special Representatives (SR) on the boundary question — National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo.

The agreement to establish the “Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs'' was signed by India's Ambassador to China S. Jaishankar and China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.

It 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.''

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.''

According to the text of the agreement, the working mechanism “will explore the possibility of cooperation in the border areas that are agreed upon by the two sides.''

It will be headed by a joint secretary-level officer from the Ministry of External Affairs and a Director General-level officer from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and will comprise diplomatic and military officials of the two sides.

“The Working Mechanism will address issues and situations that may arise in the border areas that affect the maintenance of peace and tranquillity and will work actively towards maintaining the friendly atmosphere between the two countries,'' according to the text of the agreement, released by the External Affairs Ministry.

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.

“Can work miracles”

Mr. Dai said on Monday that Sino-Indian ties have made “substantial progress'' and “can work miracles'' together. He observed that the two sides have “scaled much height'' and “produced some results'' on the framework for settlement of the boundary issue.

The two sides expressed their belief in respecting and abiding by the Line of Actual Control, pending a resolution of the boundary question. They noted that strengthening peace and tranquillity on the India-China border areas was “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.

While establishing the working mechanism, the two sides aimed for timely communication of information on the border situation, for appropriately handling border incidents and for earnestly undertaking other cooperation activities in the border areas.

During the two-day talks, the Special Representatives also agreed to prepare a joint record on the progress made so far on the border question.

“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,'' an External Affairs Ministry statement said here.

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