India and China have reached a consensus on several additional confidence building measures and agreed to implement them at the earliest. The measures include regular interaction between the Army Headquarters and Field Commands of the two sides, additional border personnel meeting points and more telecommunication linkages between their forward posts at mutually agreed locations.

An official release said in New Delhi that the consensus emerged after a two day meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs which concluded in New Delhi yesterday.

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) Pradeep Kumar Rawat, and comprised representatives of the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence and Home Affairs, members of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Director General of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ouyang Yujing led the Chinese delegation which comprised representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence. Our correspondent reports that these measures are expected to assist in the timely and effective management of situations that may arise on the border.