Chinese, Indian troops exchange sweets along border on Diwali

(ECNS) — Chinese and Indian soldiers shared sweets at several points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Tuesday to celebrate Diwali, India's festival of lights, Indian media reported.

Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, confirmed the exchange on social media platform X, calling it a "gesture of goodwill" between the troops. Indian military sources also confirmed the exchange.

The tradition of exchanging sweets between Chinese and Indian soldiers during major festivals was suspended after the Galwan Valley conflict in 2020 but resumed during Diwali last year.

In recent months, China and India have maintained communication through diplomatic and military channels to manage differences and promote stability along the border.

In July, the two countries co-chaired the 34th Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs during which both sides spoke positively of progress in managing the border situation and agreed to continue dialogue.

In August, the 24th round of talks between the special representatives of China and India on the boundary question was held in New Delhi. The two sides exchanged views on early harvests of boundary negotiations, reaffirming their willingness to give full play to the role of the Special Representatives meeting mechanism, and to explore fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solutions based on mutual respect and understanding in line with the political parameters and guiding principles agreed upon in 2005. They also agreed to strengthen regular boundary management and control, and to maintain peace and stability in the border areas jointly.

(By Evelyn)