Beijing: Indian and Chinese officials today held fourth round of talks and discussed various issues like finalising a key border security mechanism expected to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit here next month.
The two-day meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs is expected to discuss the proposed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), aimed at more comprehensively dealing with tensions related to patrolling by both sides along the Line of Actual Control.
The talks came against the backdrop of several incursions by Chinese troops along the LAC.
The mechanism headed by Foreign Ministry officials of both the countries was formed to address problems between the troops at the borders.
It came in handy to defuse tensions arising of Chinese soldiers' presence at Depsang valley in Ladakh region this year. The issue was subsequently resolved after the PLA troops withdrew from the area.
Officials said the meeting was expected to discuss the BDCA stated to be more comprehensive in dealing with tensions arising out of patrolling by both sides along the LAC.
Ahead of the meeting, China praised the contribution of the mechanism saying it played a “positive role” in enhancing cooperation and understanding between the borders related departments and the timely treatment of sensitive issues and stabilisation of border situation.
On September 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei had said the mechanism could be leveraged to resolve the vexed boundary dispute.
“China is ready to work with India to leverage this working mechanism to truly uphold the long term peace and tranquility in border areas so as to create a sound atmosphere for the final settlement of the boundary question and the sound and stable development of bilateral relations”, he had said.
India-China have held 16 rounds of Special Representatives level talks to resolve the boundary dispute so far.
The BDCA agreement was expected to be signed during Prime Minister Singh's visit here in the fourth week of October.
