Beijing:
India and China today reviewed the fallout of the recent stand-off in Depsang Valley in Ladakh with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid seeking to make existing mechanisms more effective to respond with "greater urgency" in dealing with border violations.
The three-week stand-off figured prominently in talks between Khurshid and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi with both expressing satisfaction on its resolution while skirting a detailed discussion on why the Chinese troops intruded 19 kms into Indian territory in Daulat Beig Oldi (DBO) sector.
"We also discussed recent episode on the border on the Line of Actual Control. I think it is very refreshing to get from them (Chinese) very positive and meaningful response," Khurshid, whose visit was under a cloud earlier because of the border row, told the Indian media here after his two hour-long talks.
He said there was "Appreciation of the manner in which India responded and persuaded and moved in a manner the solution was found".
"Ultimately the mechanism did deliver. And also to be able to get data from this experience of what more can be done to make the mechanisms more effective and to be able to respond with greater urgency than what we are able to this time in 20 days", he said.
Khurshid said there is "tremendous amount of satisfaction that it was resolved in a manner that it was resolved. We discussed the ground reality. The incidents of the past did not receive the same attention due to continuous media attention.
"That needs to be factored in one. There will be intense critical media. It is important information flows are carefully arranged so that there is no scope for any misunderstanding at any stage".
The Minister added, "Frankly, it is extremely balanced, satisfying, friendly meeting we had today during which the two sides finalised the visit of Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India expected to take place from May 19-21", he said.
Asked whether there was any degree of clarity on why Chinese troops intruded, Khurshid said "Frankly, I did not even look for it. We are not ready with our own analysis. How we responded is clear to us. It is not clear why it happened. They were not offering that background and we were not asking for it at this stage".
He said what is more important is that not only were "we able to address it with satisfaction on both sides but also learn from them as to how we can ensure it does not happen and if they, how we can address. This is something we can learn from it".
To a question on whether China admitted to provocation, Khurshid said "You cannot expect any country to say we provoked. It happened in remote area. To get the message to government it is a long haul. It will take little time to analyse".
The Minister said it was not helpful at this stage to actually "apportion blame between them and us because it would take the sense and satisfaction that it was resolved in time not to upset the apple cart on anything else that is going on.
And what is going is very important and significant".
"Certainly that episode has cast shadow on all this...it would have been a setback. So we are very glad that it was resolved in a sensible way...Going into details of hair splitting... on you took one step they took one step... "I think we explained very clearly status quo as it existed before April 15...That is what our objective was. We achieved it. I don't think that we took in the spirit of celebration or the victory. It was important for both sides we get back to situation as existed April 15", he said.
On whether Chinese has given any assurance, he said "I don't think it is fair to ask for assurances. Will it be in writing that means it is in the form of agreement. We already have agreements to address this kind of issues". "There are already protocols. If there is something we have to take away from it, it is learning experience. Do we need to improve our own system or do we need to improve our arrangements with them. I am sure they would do similar analysis..." he said.
To a question whether Chinese side is pressing for boundary settlement quickly as suggested by some quarters, Khurshid said, "I do not think (it) should be seen as a nudge to address the border issue".
"We should address the border issue quickly... There is no special expression that it is part of the exercise to push the border issue. It should be resolved the normal way to the satisfaction and sense of relief", he said.
"We are very pleased to resolve it and confident we will resolve it", he said adding that let experts decide.
"Glad that they (experts) are wrong and we are right. Not to score point. But the valuable relations remain unaffected and proceed with the objectives".
He said Wang responded to his sentiments saying that it could beginning of fresh chapter in relations.
Ahead of their meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that China hopes to use existing mechanisms to carry out discussions with India over border issues.
She was replying to questions on the intrusion.
"We hope to use currently available mechanisms to conduct friendly consultations with India on border issues," she said, replying to a question regarding whether the two countries will sign a new border peace treaty.
"We will work with India to jointly safeguard peace and stability in border regions and find a solution that is just, reasonable and acceptable for both sides," Hua said. She said mechanisms related to border issues have been established.
Special Representatives on border issues started meeting in 2003 and a bilateral working mechanism for consultation and coordination last year.
Welcoming Khurshid, Wang had earlier said at present the China-India relationship has shown a great momentum with both sides preparing for the back-to-back visits of leaders within this year.
He was referring to the forthcoming visit of Chinese Premier to India later this month and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here later this year.
The three-week stand-off figured prominently in talks between Khurshid and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi with both expressing satisfaction on its resolution while skirting a detailed discussion on why the Chinese troops intruded 19 kms into Indian territory in Daulat Beig Oldi (DBO) sector.
"We also discussed recent episode on the border on the Line of Actual Control. I think it is very refreshing to get from them (Chinese) very positive and meaningful response," Khurshid, whose visit was under a cloud earlier because of the border row, told the Indian media here after his two hour-long talks.
He said there was "Appreciation of the manner in which India responded and persuaded and moved in a manner the solution was found".
"Ultimately the mechanism did deliver. And also to be able to get data from this experience of what more can be done to make the mechanisms more effective and to be able to respond with greater urgency than what we are able to this time in 20 days", he said.
Khurshid said there is "tremendous amount of satisfaction that it was resolved in a manner that it was resolved. We discussed the ground reality. The incidents of the past did not receive the same attention due to continuous media attention.
"That needs to be factored in one. There will be intense critical media. It is important information flows are carefully arranged so that there is no scope for any misunderstanding at any stage".
The Minister added, "Frankly, it is extremely balanced, satisfying, friendly meeting we had today during which the two sides finalised the visit of Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India expected to take place from May 19-21", he said.
Asked whether there was any degree of clarity on why Chinese troops intruded, Khurshid said "Frankly, I did not even look for it. We are not ready with our own analysis. How we responded is clear to us. It is not clear why it happened. They were not offering that background and we were not asking for it at this stage".
He said what is more important is that not only were "we able to address it with satisfaction on both sides but also learn from them as to how we can ensure it does not happen and if they, how we can address. This is something we can learn from it".
To a question on whether China admitted to provocation, Khurshid said "You cannot expect any country to say we provoked. It happened in remote area. To get the message to government it is a long haul. It will take little time to analyse".
The Minister said it was not helpful at this stage to actually "apportion blame between them and us because it would take the sense and satisfaction that it was resolved in time not to upset the apple cart on anything else that is going on.
And what is going is very important and significant".
"Certainly that episode has cast shadow on all this...it would have been a setback. So we are very glad that it was resolved in a sensible way...Going into details of hair splitting... on you took one step they took one step... "I think we explained very clearly status quo as it existed before April 15...That is what our objective was. We achieved it. I don't think that we took in the spirit of celebration or the victory. It was important for both sides we get back to situation as existed April 15", he said.
On whether Chinese has given any assurance, he said "I don't think it is fair to ask for assurances. Will it be in writing that means it is in the form of agreement. We already have agreements to address this kind of issues". "There are already protocols. If there is something we have to take away from it, it is learning experience. Do we need to improve our own system or do we need to improve our arrangements with them. I am sure they would do similar analysis..." he said.
To a question whether Chinese side is pressing for boundary settlement quickly as suggested by some quarters, Khurshid said, "I do not think (it) should be seen as a nudge to address the border issue".
"We should address the border issue quickly... There is no special expression that it is part of the exercise to push the border issue. It should be resolved the normal way to the satisfaction and sense of relief", he said.
"We are very pleased to resolve it and confident we will resolve it", he said adding that let experts decide.
"Glad that they (experts) are wrong and we are right. Not to score point. But the valuable relations remain unaffected and proceed with the objectives".
He said Wang responded to his sentiments saying that it could beginning of fresh chapter in relations.
Ahead of their meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that China hopes to use existing mechanisms to carry out discussions with India over border issues.
She was replying to questions on the intrusion.
"We hope to use currently available mechanisms to conduct friendly consultations with India on border issues," she said, replying to a question regarding whether the two countries will sign a new border peace treaty.
"We will work with India to jointly safeguard peace and stability in border regions and find a solution that is just, reasonable and acceptable for both sides," Hua said. She said mechanisms related to border issues have been established.
Special Representatives on border issues started meeting in 2003 and a bilateral working mechanism for consultation and coordination last year.
Welcoming Khurshid, Wang had earlier said at present the China-India relationship has shown a great momentum with both sides preparing for the back-to-back visits of leaders within this year.
He was referring to the forthcoming visit of Chinese Premier to India later this month and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here later this year.
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