Jammu: For the first time ever, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Saturday hosted an Indian Army delegation in the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) area along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The day marked a milestone in India-China ties at the border-troops level as the PLA hosted an Indian Army delegation for the first time in the area of Daulat Beg Oldie, a defence spokesman said.
"The Indian delegation was led by Colonel BS Uppal and the Chinese delegation by Colonel Song Zhoanli," he said, adding that the BPM on the occasion of PLA Day is organised every year by Chinese troops with great enthusiasm.
"The occasion was marked by a salute to the Chinese flag and was followed by ceremonial addresses by the leaders of the two delegations. The proceedings reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at a functional level at the border," he said.
A cultural programme showcasing Chinese culture and tradition was also organised to mark the occasion. He said that both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment.
"The delegation parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC," he said.
Further, the spokesman said that a ceremonial border personnel meeting (BPM) on the occasion of PLA Day was conducted on Saturday at Chinese BPM Hut in Moldo Garrison in Chushul Sector of Eastern Ladakh. The delegations were led by Brigadier JKS Virk from the Indian side and Senior Colonel Chen Zheng Shan from the Chinese side, a defence spokesman said.
Indian and Chinese troops were last year locked in an over three-week long stand-off in the Chumar and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh which was resolved by way of an understanding reached between the two sides to carry out disengagement and redeployment of border troops to restore the "status quo ante".
