Article Posted on : - Jul 07, 2013

Defence Minister A.K. Antony meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the Central leadership compound, Zhongnanhai, in Beijing on Friday. Photo: PTI.

BEIJING (PTI): Setting aside recent acrimony over Chinese incursions in Ladakh, India on Saturday said there is "real forward movement" on the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement with China aimed at averting such incidents.

"There is real forward movement on the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)", Defence Minister A K Antony who held hectic talks with both civil and military leadership here for the past two days told the Indian media.

"On most of the provisions of the BDCA there is already real consensus. There are some more discussions needed on some of the areas. The discussions will continue and will arrive at a final conclusion within a reasonable time limit. There is really forward movement on that", he said, wrapping up his visit to Beijing.

After Antony's meetings with Premier Li Keqiang, his counterpart Gen Chang Wanquan and state councilor Yang Jiechi, a joint statement issued, said peace and tranquillity on the border was an important guarantor for the growth of the bilateral cooperation.

"The Ministers emphasised the importance of enhancing mutual trust and understanding between the two militaries," the statement said.

Apparently in an effort to avoid incidents like Chinese soldiers pitching tents in the Depsang valley in April resulting in tensions between the two countries, the statement said, the ministers reviewed "the working agreement and protocols dealing with the maintenance of peace and tranquillity and directed that it be further strengthened".

"Appreciating that the border defence cooperation would make significant contribution in that regard, they agreed on an early conclusion of negotiations for the BDCA between the two governments", it said.

Antony said his talks with Premier Li as well as with his Chinese counterpart, followed by the China's Special Border Representative Yang were "free and frank" transcending the pleasantries.

Antony is due to leave early on Sunday.

Asked whether the infrastructure development of the border areas would be continued without any interruption as China was reportedly concerned about it, he said, "we discussed many things free and frankly. Don't want to mention anything at this point of time. The outcome is very positive".