Russian envoy welcomes India-China agreement on border dispute, says 'amicable resolution requires trust'

“We have welcomed and are happy that the first meeting between the leaders of China and India took place in Kazan after a gap of five years. We believe this is a very positive development in the bilateral relations between India and China,” Russian envoy Denis Alipov said at a media briefing.

Alipov said that even though Russia did not organise the meeting, it values the strengthening of ties between the two countries.

"It is important and desirable that India and China maintain stable and good relations. This is favourable for Eurasian security and beneficial for the world at large," he said, pointing to comments made by

On Oct 21, India and China reached an agreement to resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The breakthrough came two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan on Oct 23.

In image PM Modi and Xi Jinping holding bilateral talks during BRICS Summit on Oct 23/ courtesy: PIB

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Sunday said the Indian and Chinese armies will resume patrolling in a similar way they had before the border face-off began in May 2020.

"We are looking forward to reinstating the patrolling setup as it was before October 31, 2020, in areas such as Demchok and Depsang. This will, of course, take some time," Jaishankar stated during a press briefing in Mumbai.

He noted that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 21 lifts restrictions on patrolling in Ladakh’s northernmost borders, especially in areas like Zabsang and Demchok.

Following the agreement, both countries have initiated the disengagement of troops at the friction points in Demchok and the Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, with the process expected to be completed by Tuesday.

The current agreement specifically addresses these two points, while "discussions are ongoing" for other contested areas.