To cool down tempers that had surfaced between India and China over the land row in Dokalam, India on Friday said that it will continue to engage with China to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Dokalam standoff.

India also asserted that peace and tranquility on the border is an important pre-requisite for smooth bilateral relationship.

 “We will continue to engage with China to find a mutually acceptable solution,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said replying to a volley of questions on the issue.

 He said peace and tranquility in the border areas is an important pre-requisite for smooth development of bilateral relationship.

 Asked about incident between Chinese troops and Indian border guards in Ladakh on August 15, the MEA spokesperson said, “Such incidents are not in the interest of either side.”

 He said two border personnel meetings (BPMs) had taken place between Indian border guards and Chinese troops recently.

 He said one BPM had taken place at Chushul on August 16 and another one at Nathu La a week before.

 When asked whether China had shared hydrological data with India as floods have severely hit Assam and Bihar, Kumar said no such data was received from Beijing on Brahmaputra this year.

 India and China have an existing mechanism under which both countries share hydrological data.

 Kumar said non sharing of hydrological data by China cannot be linked to the current standoff as there can be technical reasons for it.

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