Beijing:
India and China today signed a landmark agreement on border cooperation to avoid face-offs like the one in Depsang valley in Ladakh in April, calling for mutual trust and maximum restraint at the border.
In the pact signed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese premier Li Keqiang, the two countries agreed not to use their military strengths against each other or to attack the other side and said "neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other side by any means nor seek unilateral superiority."
"Peace along the border is a foundation of our relationship," said Dr Manmohan Singh. His Chinese counterpart said: "I am sure it will bring peace and tranquility in border areas. We have agreed that the leadership of both sides have the ability to manage differences along the border."
The two sides agreed to hold flag meetings, or meetings between border personnel, at designated places along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The pact also calls for periodic meetings between senior army officers and defence officials, and also talks about a hotline between the military headquarters of the two countries.
India and China agreed that in the event of a face-off, both sides would exercise maximum restraint and not threaten to use force. They also decided not to tail each others patrols in areas where there is no common ground on the LAC.
The agreement includes telephone contacts and telecommunication links along the LAC.
The pact comes after tension between the two countries over the prolonged standoff in Ladakh six months ago.
Chinese troops had entered 19 km inside what India considers its own territory in the Depsang plains of Ladakh in April this year and camped there for three weeks before withdrawing.