India-China meets at Arunachal Pradesh reaffirms pledge to peace
India and China have reaffirmed their promise to maintain peace and harmony along the international border and strengthen friendship.
This decision came at a special border personnel’s meet held at Bum La, which is about 14, 615 feet above sea level and 37 km east of Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh Saturday as part of 63rd Independence Day celebrations of India.
The Indian delegation was headed by Brigadier Ashok Ambre, Commander Garrison Brigade Tawang, while the Chinese delegation, which comprised more than 350 personnel, was headed by Colonel Yang Zijing.
The special border personnel’s meets are held mainly to strengthen mutual ties and improve relations between the two countries and such special meets are being held since 1999 and apart from the celebrations.
Common issues of the countries are settled by the officials concerned through discussions.
The function started with hoisting of the National Flag followed by welcome addresses by the leaders of both the delegations.
Brigadier Ambre said, “On both sides of the border we are committed for maintaining peace, harmony and friendship for development of our nations.”
The highlight of the celebrations at Bum La near the Indo-China international border this year was a colouful programme performance by the artistes of the Songs and Drama Division of the Government of India.
The reaffirmation of commitment to strengthen friendship was the highlight of the formal interaction, which was followed by a cultural show highlighting the cultural heritage of India.
Public Relations Officer of the 4 Corps of the Army Col R Kalia informed that
as a part of the efforts to improve relations between India and China, the Army personnel and other officials of both the countries meet at least four times a year regularly.
Two of these occasions are special border personnel’s meets, one of which is the Independence Day of India when a Chinese delegation comes to India to celebrate the day with their Indian counterparts and the other being the celebration of China’s National day on October 1, when an Indian delegation goes across border to attend the occasion.
Apart from the celebrations, the points of mutual interest are also discussed in the formal official-level meetings on these days.
In addition to the special border personnel’s meets, Army personnel of India and China meet regularly on two more occasions a year, once in India and once in China in June and October respectively to discuss issues of mutual interest and the regular interactions are helpful in settling minor issues and in maintaining peace along the international border.
A special border personnel’s meeting hut has also been constructed in Bum La near the international border in Arunachal Pradesh for holding of such meetings.