Indian and Chinese troops celebrated Indian Independence Day at Nathu-La border in Sikkim on August 15.
Indian Army said that a special personal meeting with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) was held on the Indian side at the “historic Nathu-La Pass”.
"It was done to jointly celebrate the 72nd Independence Day of India," the press statement said.
The two forces had engaged several times after the Doklam stalemate last year. But this is the first time after the Doklam standoff, PLA came to the Indian side.
Though the India-China border in Sikkim has been recognised and is not part of the Line of Actual Control, heavy Indian military presence is there in the border area considering steady Chinese incursion in the last several years in east and north Sikkim.
"The celebration took place in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship, with an aim of enhancing mutual trust and promoting border peace and tranquility," said a release from the 33 Corps of Indian Army, which is part of the Eastern Command.
Besides interactions between the two armies, cultural programmes portraying the rich cultural diversity of two nations were presented by both sides as a mark of respect to Indian Independence Day.
A senior army officer said that pleasantries were also exchanged in north Sikkim at Kongra-La. Kongra-La mountain pass is where Indian Army had earlier participated in PLA founding day celebrations on August 1, 2018.
"India showed the first gesture after Doklam standoff and the Chinese PLA reciprocated this time," said an officer of the Eastern Command.
The Indian Army said, "Such interactions between the two armies have resulted in enhancement of goodwill and mutual understanding between the two nations."
Indian Army troops deployed in remote and high altitude areas of Sikkim also celebrated Independence Day by hoisting the National Flag at different forward posts with great zeal and enthusiasm. However, there was no engagement with the PLA in those places.
Interestingly, the celebration in Nathu-La took place amid controversies over fresh Chinese incursions in Ladakh, reported couple of days back.