Indian, Chinese army greets on New Year in Ladakh region

Indian and Chinese soldiers on Tuesday exchange pleasantries on the occasion of the New Year at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

At the invitation of the People Liberation Army (PLA) of China, ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings (BPMs) were held to celebrate the New Year at Chinese BPM hut at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD meeting points in Eastern Ladakh, the Army said in a statement.

The Indian delegations were led by Major General Sanjiv Rai and Colonel S.S. Lamba and the Chinese delegations by Senior Colonel Liu Hou Jie and Colonel Song Zhang Li respectively.

The ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting commenced with saluting the national flags by the delegation members. This was followed by a ceremonial address comprising an exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks.

The address reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the functional level at the border. Thereafter, a cultural programme showcasing Chinese culture and traditions was organised.

The ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings were held in the backdrop of successful conduct of Exercise Hand-in-Hand at Chengdu in China wherein troops of both the countries interacted, participated in joint exercises and shared on ground experiences. "Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border," it said.

India and China were locked in a 72-day stand-off at Doklam in August 2017 in the wake of China building roads at the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction. The two countries have fought a war in 1962.

(With inputs from agencies.)