Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held talks during which the Indian side conveyed its concerns over Chinese incursions as the two sides discussed all “substantive issues” having bearing on bilateral ties.
Modi and Xi held talks in a restricted format and then at the delegation level during which the two leaders also focussed on cooperation in key areas of trade and investment.
Modi, who hosted a private dinner for Xi in Ahmedabad after his arrival there on Wednesday, raised the issue of Chinese incursions on Wednesday night as well as on Thursday, official sources said.
The issue assumes significance in the backdrop of incursions by the Chinese side in Chumar area of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chinese Army pushed in more troops into Chumar village along the Line of Actual Control in the wee hours of Thursday.
The Chinese side had pushed in more troops on Wednesday morning as well, the sources said, adding that the number of People’s Liberation Army personnel stood at nearly 500 with an equal matcher from the Indian side as well.
Chumar, located more than 300 km Northeast of Leh and bordering Himachal Pradesh, has been a flash point between the two sides, with the Chinese side making several attempts to end India’s dominance in the area.
The stand-off in Demchok where Chinese nomads —— Rebos —— had pitched their tents is continuing. The incursion in this area is nearly 500 metres deep into Indian territory.
