Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s2.t4.6

v2.c14.s2.t4.6

From September 6-9, 1993, Indian Prime Minister Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao was invited to pay an official goodwill visit to China. Both sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern and signed four documents including the *Agreement on Maintaining Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the China-India Border Areas*. According to the agreement, the two countries agreed to address border issues through peaceful and friendly negotiations. Both sides agreed not to go for arbitrary use and threat of force. Both sides agreed to strictly respect and abide by the control line in between before the final settlement of border issues. Both sides agreed to maintain their respective military forces in the line of actual control at the minimum level appropriate for good neighbourly and friendly relations between the two countries. The term 'line of actual control' appeared for the first time in the official document signed between the two countries. After the signing of the agreement, the Indian and Chinese armies started to exchange visits and spontaneous border trade became active.