NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on Wednesday in Vientiane, Laos, during the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). The discussions come amid renewed efforts by India and China to resolve tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The meeting follows an agreement between New Delhi and Beijing to de-escalate the border situation by restoring troop positions along the LAC to pre-2020 levels. This agreement marks a significant step toward addressing the lingering effects of the deadly Galwan Valley clashes.
Earlier, on October 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, further highlighting efforts to strengthen diplomatic engagement.
Speaking before his departure, Singh stated, “I’m leaving for Vientiane to attend the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Lao PDR. Various regional and international security issues will be discussed during the meeting. There will also be separate bilateral meetings with counterparts from other participating nations. Looking forward to it.”
In a related development, the Indian and Chinese armies recently initiated coordinated patrols in the Demchok and Depsang regions of Eastern Ladakh, following a disengagement agreement. Under the arrangement, troops from both sides will alternate weekly patrols in these areas, aiming to build confidence and support de-escalation efforts.
This agreement, reached after extensive negotiations across political, diplomatic, and military channels, underscores a mutual commitment to maintaining stability and peace along the contested border. Both nations will continue holding regular ground-level discussions to monitor progress and sustain the fragile peace process.
