Indian and Chinese soldiers exchange candy, end border standoff

Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points, signaling a thaw in bilateral ties after completing the disengagement process from two disputed points.

The Hindu quoted informed sources as saying that Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on October 31, 2024.

Indian and Chinese troops exchange sweets in Ladakh region on October 31, 2024

According to the Indian news agency PTI, the exchange took place at five meeting points of border officers of the two countries along the LAC. Photos released by the Indian army showed soldiers from the two countries shaking hands and exchanging sweets in the Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh regions.

This traditional practice was carried out a day after the two countries completed the withdrawal of troops at two disputed points including the Depsang and Demchok plains, east of Ladakh (which China calls Aksai Chin) in the disputed Himalayan border area between the two countries.

Earlier, India and China reached an agreement on border patrols, ending a four-year military standoff, paving the way for improved political and business ties between the two sides. According to The Hindu , citing informed sources, the patrol method will be decided between the commanders on the ground.

The agreement currently only applies to the two areas of Depsang and Demchok and negotiations are still underway for other locations.

Days after the two countries reached a new border treaty, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held their first formal talks in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia on October 23. The two leaders agreed to increase communication and resolve conflicts to help improve relations, according to Reuters.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on October 24 that the progress in China-India relations was thanks to continuous dialogue efforts to resolve disagreements.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/binh-si-an-do-trung-quoc-tang-keo-cho-nhau-ngung-doi-dau-o-bien-gioi-185241101110709333.htm