A ceremonial border personnel meet on the occasion of harvest festival in eastern Ladakh. a tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 14

Ahead of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s four-day visit to China to discuss a host of issues, including maintaining peace on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the armies of the two countries today held ceremonial border personnel meetings (BPMs) in the Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sectors in the Ladakh region to mark harvest festival.Parrikar is scheduled to visit China from April 17 and it will be followed by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s visit, probably on April 20.“Ceremonial border personal meetings (BPMs) on the occasion of harvest festival were conducted today at Indian BPM Hut in Chushul and Indian Meeting Point Hut at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in eastern Ladakh,” said Northern Command’s Defence spokesperson Col SD Goswami.“The delegations were led by Brig Rajender Rai in Chushul and by Col BS Uppal in DBO. The Chinese delegations were led by Senior Col Wang Jun Xian in Chushul and by Lt Col Duan Yu Gangin,” added Col Goswami.The ceremonial border personal meetings were marked by saluting the national flags by both the delegations members.This was followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders, which was composed of exchange of greetings and wishes and reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the functional level at the border.Thereafter a culture programme showcasing Indian culture and traditional grandeur was organised.Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The delegation parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC. Both sides also sought to uphold the treaties and agreement signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC.