In a major boost to bilateral relations, India and China on Wednesday agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges and take concrete steps towards resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra has been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Chinese side’s non-renewal of arrangements. The Centre has been diplomatically engaging with the Chinese authorities to resume the Yatra.
The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra is a challenging pilgrimage that winds its way through the majestic Tibetan plateau. Considered one of the most sacred journeys in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It centers around Mount Kailash, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Mount Kailash is located in Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
India, China Reach Consensus on 6 Points.
The meeting follows the bilateral between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Kazan last month. It was the first significant breakthrough amid the chill that gad set in following the clashes in Ladakh’s Galwan the worst in decades.
At the meet two sides agreed to continue to measures to maintain peace and tranquility. In the border areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. During discussion both SRs also underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas. They reaffirmed their “commitment to continue seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue. Accordance with the political guidelines agreed upon by the special representatives of the two countries”.
India and China have also agreed to hold a new round of special representatives’ meetings in India next year.
The disengagement, finalized in October, saw both India and China pull back troops from the two remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang. After nearly four years of military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Following the disengagement, both India and China are keen to build on this momentum and reestablish trust. The special representatives ‘talks, which are part of a long-established mechanism to address the border dispute, have been convened after a hiatus, with the last meeting held in 2019.
