India and China have agreed to "quickly disengage" from a standoff that has seen gunfire at a disputed border and accusations of kidnapping.
"They agreed, therefore, that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions," said the statement, released by Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
But relations took deteriorated further in recent days, after China on Tuesday accused Indian troops of illegally crossing the border and firing "provocative" warning shots at patrolling soldiers.
India rejected the allegation, accusing Chinese border forces of firing in the air and saying it was they who had "been blatantly violating agreements".
India's military had a day earlier also alerted Chinese officials to reports that five Indian civilians had been kidnapped by Chinese troops from an area near the disputed border.
In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent skirmish with Chinese forces.
India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into Ladakh's Galwan valley and says China occupies 38,000sq km (14,700sq miles) of its territory.
For China, even temporary peace at the border means one less battle to fight in the international arena
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