Defence ministers of India, China hold talks in New Delhi

Defence ministers of India and China today held talks in New Delhi as the two leaders had "frank" discussions about the lingering border row in eastern Ladakh.

During the talks, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Gen Li Shangfu that all issues at the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between the two countries across large part of the Himalayas, need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Rajnath "reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations," according to an Indian Defence Ministry statement.

Rajnath also told Li said that disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation, said the statement.

"The two Ministers had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations," it added.

The Indian Defence Minister "categorically conveyed that development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders and that all issues at the LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments."

The Chinese defence minister is in New Delhi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting on April 28.

Li's visit to India is the first by a Chinese defence minister since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted thee years ago and the deadly Galwan Valley clashes between the armies of the two countries in June 2020, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese troops.

Li's visit also comes after the recent conclusion of the 18th Round of the senior military commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the border dispute.