&w=3840&q=100)
India, China delegations meet to discuss border issues, normalisation of bilateral ties
A man walks inside a conference room used for meetings between military commanders of China and India, at the Indian side of the Indo-China border at Bumla, in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, November 11, 2009. Reuters File
India and China held the 34th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi on Wednesday (July 23), in a fresh bid to sustain momentum on de-escalation efforts along the Line of Actual Control.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gourangalal Das, while the Chinese side was headed by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
According to a statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs, both sides reviewed the situation in the border areas and expressed satisfaction with the 'general prevalence of peace and tranquillity,' noting progress toward 'gradual normalisation' of bilateral ties.
Push for phased disengagement and SR-level talks
The two sides discussed measures aimed at 'advancing effective border management and sustaining peace and tranquillity,' building on understandings reached during the 23rd round of the Special Representatives' (SR) Talks held in Beijing in March 2024.
That round saw National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agree to a phased withdrawal at remaining friction points like Depsang and Demchok.
The WMCC talks also prepared the ground for the 24th round of the SR Talks on the India-China boundary question, which is expected to be held in India later this year. The SR mechanism functions as a higher-level political dialogue to resolve the boundary dispute.
Meeting follows two high-level ministerial visits
The timing of the meeting adds to its significance, coming after two important bilateral exchanges this year. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar travelled to Beijing in January 2025, followed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's engagement with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting in April.
India and China have maintained multiple layers of engagement to navigate ongoing tensions in eastern Ladakh. While large-scale disengagement has been achieved at some points, talks remain deadlocked at several locations.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US tariff shock jolts Punjab exporters
The 25% tariff announced by US President Donald Trump has come as a big blow to Punjab's exporters, many of whom depend heavily on the American market to run their businesses. Industries in Punjab export yarn, textiles, hand tools, agri and tractor parts to the US, among other products. (HT file photo) With the new import duty set to take effect from August 7, industrialists say buyers may stop placing new orders and shift to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey where goods will be cheaper due to lower tariffs. It is also expected to make importers hold back on placing new orders, say industrialists. Industries in Punjab export yarn, textiles, hand tools, agri and tractor parts to the US, among other products. 'The tariffs announced by the US President are not just disappointing but very worrying,' said Amit Thapar of Ganga Acrowools Limited in Ludhiana, which exports yarn to the US. Thapar, who is also the chairman of CII's (Northern Region) export committee, said, 'Textile exports worth approximately $10.05 billion were made from India to the US last year and this year till May, the exports have already grown by 13 %.' Punjab contributes a significant 28% to India's total textile export of $36 billion. 'But the problem now facing the industry in the state is lower tariffs on competing countries like Turkey (15%), Vietnam (20%), Pakistan (19%), Bangladesh (20%) and Sri Lanka (20%), all lower than India. This puts Indian exporters at a huge disadvantage. Buyers have been calling us. We will start holding meetings to chart the future path amid uncertainty. I hope the situation improves,' he added. SC Ralhan, president, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), who is the managing director of Ludhiana-based Sri Tool industries, said the tariffs were a major setback for the hand tools industry in Punjab that annually exports machinery worth ₹3,000 crore to the US. 'Our government is negotiating with exporters on this front. They are likely to compensate us, but if the tariff is implemented, it will be a huge setback. Countries like Vietnam and Turkey are set to benefit straight away,' he said. Upkar Singh Ahuja, president, Chamber of Commercial and Industrial Undertakings (CICU), said the industry in Punjab will be adversely hit, as besides textiles, hand tools machinery and auto parts were exported in huge quantities to the US. 'We are hopeful that the Indian government will provide a respite soon,' he said.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
'No MPs will be stopped from speaking': Kiren Rijiju defends CISF deployment in Rajya Sabha's well; dismisses opposition concerns
NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju defended the deployment of CISF personnel in the Rajya Sabha's Well, citing instances where MPs had physically climbed atop the treasury bench and assured Congress that no MP would be stopped from speaking. Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concerns on Friday over CISF personnel deployment. Condemning the move, Kharge said, "We expect that in the future, CISF personnel will not come trooping into the well of the House when Members are raising important issues of public concern." Responding to Kharge's concern, Rijju said, "It was Parliament members' demand to increase security, therefore CISF was deployed. Inside the house, members have sometimes physically taken a stand atop the treasury table and near the Well. Security has been deployed to stop them from doing this. No MPs will be stopped from speaking." He clarified that CISF personnel would remain passive unless MPs engaged in disruptive behaviour, ANI reported. The Union Minister stated, "Marshals and security inside the House will not take any action till the time MPs indulge in something malicious. Some MPs went aggressive, and therefore arrangements were made to stop them." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest in SALIK shares today and be part of the city's growth سالك Learn More Undo On Friday, Rajya Sabha opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge sent a letter to deputy chairman Harivansh, expressing disapproval of CISF personnel deployment during Opposition protests. Kharge wrote, "We are astonished and shocked at the manner in which CISF personnel are made to run into the Well of the House when the Members are exercising their democratic right of protest" Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticised the government, noting that female MPs were intercepted by male CISF personnel. "Today is a sad and dark day in Indian democracy. Commandos have been deployed. Some are saying it is CISF, some are saying something else. They forcefully stopped the members from going to the staff. Our women members were stopped. Men stopped them," Tiwari told reporters.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
May consider dividends to citizens: Trump on tariff revenue disbursal plans
The day the 25 per cent US tariffs on Indian imports came into effect, President Donald Trump said he might consider extending the "dividends" earned through the levies imposed on America's trade partners to its citizens, news agency Reuters reported on the Trump tariff tirade, while most European Union member countries and the UK were hit with 15 per cent levies, Japan with 10 per cent, and South Korea with just 5 per cent, India saw a 25 per cent blanket rate imposed on its products imported by the US. The US cited exponentially high tariffs by India on American products behind its Trump imposed a 35 per cent duty on many goods from Canada, 50 per cent on Brazil, 39 per cent on Switzerland and 20 per cent on Taiwan. Notably, Trump has signed a new executive order that imposes fresh import tariffs on goods from 69 countries and the European Union, which will come into effect on August per the order, Syria tops the list of highest tariffs at 41 per cent, followed by Laos and Myanmar at 40 per cent, and Iraq and Serbia at 35 per cent. Other countries such as Libya and Algeria will now face a 30 per cent China, against whom Trump once ordered tariffs as high as a whopping 145 per cent, is still negotiating with the US, with American officials saying that they are looking at an imminent trade deal. "But it is not 100 per cent done," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC move is part of Trump's push for what he describes as more "fair and reciprocal" trade relationships. The White House said that some countries had failed to meet US expectations during trade talks, leading to these new Trump's tariff move and the deadline, global stock markets witnessed a slump as investors panicked, fearing a global supply chain disruption and the outcome of their talks with who had grown accustomed to Trump's frequent trade threats may now be facing a reality check, as broad tariffs on numerous countries have taken effect just as the deadline to negotiate trade agreements with the US passed without resolution.- EndsTune InMust Watch
