China on Wednesday again blamed India of provoking a border clash earlier this month that left at least 20 soldiers dead.

China also urged New Delhi to "meet China halfway" in restoring peace and stability along their disputed frontier high in the Himalayas. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian offered a longer explanation of China's view of the incident but gave little new information. 

He reasserted China's claim that the confrontation on June 15 in the Galwan Valley, part of the disputed Ladakh region, occurred on China's side of the Actual Line of Control and Indian forces had illegally entered Chinese territory. 

"The responsibility (for the incident) is entirely not on the Chinese side," Zhao said at a daily briefing. 

"The reckless actions by the Indian military seriously violated agreements signed between the two countries and seriously violated the basic principles of international relations. They were evil in nature and the consequences were severe," Zhao said. 

Commanders agreed Monday to disengage their forces in their first meeting since the confrontation.

The clash was the deadliest between the two countries in 45 years. India said 20 of its soldiers died. China has not released any information on casualties on its side. 

Soldiers brawled with clubs, rocks and their fists at 4,270 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level, but no shots were fired, Indian officials have said. The soldiers carry firearms but are not allowed to use them under a previous agreement in the border dispute.

Indian security officials said the fatalities were caused by severe injuries and exposure to subfreezing temperatures.

Zhao said talks held Monday and Tuesday resulted in both sides agreeing to take necessary measures to cool the situation and promote peace and stability. 

In all, China claims some 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India's northeast, including the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, with its traditionally Buddhist population. India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the western Himalayas, including part of the Ladakh region.