New Delhi, July 6
India and China today pledged to strengthen the existing agreements on maintaining peace and tranquility along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two sides also agreed on a slew of confidence-building measures, including increased military-to-military contact and frequent border meetings between commanders.

“Peace and tranquility on the border was an important guarantor for the growth and development of bilateral cooperation, trust and understanding between the two militaries,” said a joint statement released after Defence Minister AK Antony met his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan at Beijing.

The two Asian giants agreed to quickly conclude negotiations on the proposed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement. The two ministers announced greater interaction between their defence forces. This is major change as India had suspended all military relations with China after the latter refused visa to its General and chief of the northern command in 2009.

Antony and his counterpart reviewed the working of various agreements and protocols to maintain calm at the border. A standoff in Ladakh had escalated tension between the two sides in April this year.

The joint statement listed new proposals to ramp up military ties. Senior military commanders from service headquarters, command/military region and field formations will go on exchange visits on a regular basis. Troops stationed on the border will engage in talks more often. The border personnel meetings will now take place with greater frequency and at more locations. Currently, such meetings take place twice in a year at each of the three designated spots - Chusul in Ladakh, Nathula in Sikkim and Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh. The two navies will increase ship visits, consider conducting joint maritime search and rescue exercises and cooperate in counter-piracy operations. Similarly, the air forces will expand their functional exchanges. Military training institutions will also strengthen their exchanges at the faculty and student levels.

General Chang Wanquan has accepted Antony’s invitation to visit India. Antony’s visit to China was the first by an Indian Defence Minister since 2006.