Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, in Vientiane, Laos, during the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus) on Wednesday.
The meeting follows a recent agreement between India and China to ease border tensions by withdrawing troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to their pre-2020 positions, a step toward resolving disputes stemming from the 2020 Galwan clash.
This engagement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit on 23 October. The discussions between Singh and Dong Jun are seen as a crucial step in advancing the peace-building process along the LAC.
Before departing for Vientiane, Rajnath Singh stated, "I am attending the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Lao PDR, where various regional and international security issues will be discussed. I will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from other participating nations. Looking forward to it."
Recently, India and China agreed to conduct coordinated weekly patrols in the Demchok and Depsang areas of Eastern Ladakh, following the disengagement of troops. Each side will alternate weekly patrols, a move aimed at reducing tensions and fostering confidence. The agreement resulted from extensive negotiations at political, diplomatic, and military levels. Both nations plan to continue ground-level discussions regularly to maintain stability and support de-escalation efforts.
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