Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping agree to expedite disengagement along LAC
Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit where they agreed on «expeditious disengagement and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Thursday.
»n his conversation with President Xi, the Prime Minister highlighted India's concerns over the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the India-China border areas. Prime Minister (Modi) had interactions with other Brics leaders (as well)," Kwatra said.
Modi told Xi that «maintenance of peace, tranquility in border areas and respecting LAC» are essential for the normalisation of India-China ties, Kwatra said.
«Modi and Xi agreed to direct relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement, de-escalation,» Kwatra informed.
Modi and Xi were seen having brief chat at the Brics meet on Thursday morning ahead of the announcement for Brics expansion.
Xi and Modi met 18 times between 2014 and 2019, but have largely avoided direct talks since the Galwan episode despite having crossed paths at a number of international summits. The two had a brief chat at Bali in 2022 at the G20 Summit.
In the run up to this meeting in Johannesburg National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval and China's foreign minister Wang Yi were in touch over the disengagement of frontline troops at the two remaining points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and discussed the future of political engagement for the Brics and G-20 summits.
