India says will work with China on next steps for cross-border cooperation
Hindustan TimesNew Delhi: India on Friday said it will work with China on steps to take forward the understanding reached by the Special Representatives of the two sides on cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border trade. India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval metChina’s foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing The Special Representatives on the border issue – India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval and China’s foreign minister Wang Yi – met in Beijing on Wednesday for their first formal talks in nearly five years, following an understanding reached by the two sides on October 21 on the disengagement of frontline forces in Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control. When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked at a regular media briefing to provide details on this development, he said, “It means that the discussions have gone into the positive direction, and thereafter, whatever else is required will be done to take these cross-border exchanges forward.” The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has not been held since 2020 when the sudden massing of troops by China in the Ladakh sector of the LAC triggered a military standoff that saw both sides deploying close to 60,000 troops each in the region. Jaiswal was also asked about a statement issued by China’s foreign ministry following the talks between the Special Representatives that claimed the two sides had reached a “six-point consensus”, and he said the readout from the Indian side gives the “perspective of what was discussed”.