China and India promise to keep peace on their border after last year’s Doklam stand-off

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to maintain a peaceful border as the militaries of the two countries continue to work to repair their relationship.

Wei, who is also a general in the People’s Liberation Army, told Modi during a visit to New Delhi that friendly cooperation had become the main component of China and India’s inter-military relations, the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.

It was the first visit by a Chinese military leader since last year’s stand-off on the Himalayan border between the two countries.

“This visit … will deepen our bilateral military exchanges and cooperation on security, enhance mutual trust and push forward the new development of our military ties to protect peace on the border,” Wei said.

Modi praised the “thousands of years of friendship” between India and China, saying his previous meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping had resulted in good relations.

Wei will also meet Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to further discuss security and stability on the border, the statement said.

Between June and August last year, hundreds of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a months-long military confrontation in Doklam, an area claimed by both China and India’s ally Bhutan, as India strongly objected to China’s construction of a road there.