Before PLA took a step back, a 2-hr-long video call between NSA Doval and China’s Wang Yi

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi over video call on Sunday, right before soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army were reported to have taken the first few steps to move back from the standoff points in the Galwan area, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times on Monday.

NSA Ajit Doval and the Chinese foreign minister Wang’s conversation is learnt to have focused on what is being described as “full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquillity” along the Line of Actual Control. The two sides also spoke about working together to avoid such incidents in future, a top government official said.

An external affairs ministry statement issued later said NSA Doval and minister Wang - two Special Representatives on the boundary issue - had “a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.”

The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas. They reaffirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas.

Source : Hindustan times of India