China, India should jointly maintain peace in border areas, Defense Ministry says

China and India should jointly uphold peace and tranquility in border areas, a Chinese defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, made the remark in a regular news briefing in Beijing, after the 24th Round of Talks Between the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question was recently held in India on Aug 19.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, both sides reached a 10-point consensus and agreed to strengthen diplomatic and military communication mechanisms.

Zhang said that during the talks, both parties exchanged views on the China-India boundary question in a candid and in-depth manner with a positive and constructive attitude, reaching multiple consensuses.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India," he said. "Both sides should consolidate the momentum of improving bilateral relations and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, based on the consensus that the two countries are partners and opportunities for each other, as reached by two sides' leaders."

The two countries should explore the right way for neighboring major powers to respect and trust each other, coexist peacefully, pursue development together, and achieve mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.