China says Beijing, New Delhi have put Doklam behind them, working to take ties forward

China and India are working together to "take forward" their relationship, and have left the Doklam episode behind them, the Chinese Consul General said in Kolkata on Friday.

On August 28, the Ministry of External Affairs announced the "expeditious disengagement of border personnel" at Doklam, signalling that the months-long standoff at the disputed India-China-Bhutan trijunction had come to an end - before it could embarrass the leadership of both India and China at the BRICS summit.

For months, the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China had faced each other, holding their respective posts about 150 metres apart. 

Consul General Ma Zhanwu said yesterday that by working together, India and China can enhance cooperation and exchanges. He was speaking at an event marking the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"India and China are working together. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had a meeting on September 5 to discuss how to enhance the relationship," Zhanwu said.

Prime Minister Modi had met President Xi on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Summit.  The two leaders agreed that their nations should put in more effort to strengthen the cooperation between their security personnel and ensure that Doklam-like incidents don't happen again.

"As long as the two countries work together, we will able to enhance and develop exchanges and cooperation," Zhanwu said.

Asked if both the countries have left behind the Doklam episode, Zhanwu said, "Yes we have left that behind and are working together to take forward the bilateral relationship".

The Doklam standoff began on June 16,  after India stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese Army. It lasted 73 days.

(Inputs from PTI)