After LAC, efforts on to address China trade hiccups: Govt in Parliament

After reaching an agreement on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in October last year, India and China have been working towards resolving roadblocks in trade and economic cooperation, the government informed Parliament on Friday.

“Issues related to restrictive trade measures and roadblocks to economic cooperation have been raised by the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Secretary with their Chinese counterparts. Discussions have also been held at the working level,” Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Both sides reached the agreement on patrolling arrangements along the LAC in Depsang and Demchok on October 21, 2024, leading to disengagement, the minister said. “The agreement has since been implemented as per modalities and timelines agreed. The terms of the disengagement continue to hold in relevant areas in eastern Ladakh,” he said.

Until October 2024, India and China remained engaged to resolve issues of disengagement along the LAC through the Working Mechanism for Cooperation and Coordination (WMCC) and Senior Highest Military Commanders meeting (SHMC) mechanism, he said.

“Since the disengagement in 2024, besides mechanisms to address boundary-related issues such as the India-China Special Representatives' Talks and the WMCC, both sides have held various other meetings to stabilise and rebuild ties. The focus has been on people-centric engagements, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flight connectivity, trans-border rivers and on activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,” the government said.

Since last year, meetings have been held between the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister, National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and their Chinese counterparts, the minister said.