ITANAGAR, Aug 16 - Celebrating the country�s 72nd Independence Day, a special Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between the armies of India and China was held at a new location in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday during which both sides affirmed their resolve to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
�A new location for the BPM was opened at Kepang La in Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh between the Indian Army and the People�s Liberation Army (PLA) troops on August 15, marking a historic day in Indo-China relationship,� according to a communique from the Kohima-based Defence spokesperson.
The Indian delegation was led by Col Manish Joshi and the PLA delegation was led by Col Chen Sau Feng.
�After the initial welcome address from both sides, gifts were exchanged. Both sides affirmed their resolve to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control,� the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, there was another BPM at Kibithu, on the Indian side of the LAC to celebrate the Independence Day.
The Kibithu-Daman Border Meeting mechanism was started as a confidence-building measure to resolve local boundary issues and has been instrumental in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC since 2014.
Both the sides agreed that joint celebrations signified the importance attached by the two countries to enhance the trust and cooperation and hoped that such interactions would continue to foster the environment of mutual confidence and understanding, the communique added.
