Kibithu: New point of Indo-China

Kibithu, Indo-China Border, Nov 19 (UNI) Leaving aside hostility over Arunachal Pradesh, China and India have added another feather to their developing relations when the Chinese and Indian Army met for the first time at Kibithu, the North eastern most tip of India.

History was created yesterday in the small town of Kibithu, a hamlet located in Anjaw District of Arunachal Pradesh near Indo-Sino border where the first formal Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) was held in pursuance of the goals of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

Two days before Chinese President Hu Jintao reaching New Delhi, the Border troops of the Lohit Valley Sector invited the Chinese counterparts to lay the foundation for furthering the bilateral ties and strengthening mutual faith and cooperation at Kibithu district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese officers and soldiers attired in full regalia marched almost three km from across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the inhospitable terrain and weather conditions to honour the invitation extended by their Indian counterparts to foster the common cause of the two nations.

The BPM was held on the Indian side and nearest large town is Tezu, which is 180 km from Kibithu and nearly 700 km from Guwahati.

On the Chinese side, the nearest important town is Rima, which is just 20 km.

The Border Personnel Meetings (BPMs) along the entire Indo-China border stretching across thousands of km are steadily increasing and fast becoming a regular feature, especially in the areas of Chushul, Nathula, Bum La and now at Kibithu to promote mutual faith and the process of confidence building as envisioned in Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement (BPTA) signed in 1993 with China undertaken by both sides to strengthen the ties between the two nations.

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