Foreign and Military Affairs

China, India conclude border talks to boost ties

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-30 20:59

BEIJING - China and India Tuesday concluded their 14th round of border talks with a joint call to "seek a fair and reasonable solution acceptable to both sides," according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement Tuesday.

As special representatives of their countries, Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon co-chaired the two-day talks in Beijing.

In his opening remarks at the start of talks Monday, Dai said, "I know you are directly involved in establishing the mechanism of border talks between special representatives," which was set up in 2003, referring to Menon's efforts as ambassador to Beijing at that time.

This was Menon's first round of border talks as the special representative since he became the Indian NSA this year.

China and India share a 2,000-km-long border that has never been formally delineated. The two countries began to discuss border issues in the 1980s.

To maintain peace and stability in their border areas, the two sides signed two agreements in 1993 and 1996.

In 2005, the two countries signed a political guideline on border demarcation during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India.

"Dai and Menon had an in-depth exchange of views on how to properly solve the China-India boundary issue to safeguard peace and tranquility along the border," said the statement issued after the talks.

Both sides agree that they will take into consideration overall China-India relations and two people's fundamental interests while making efforts to achieve a fair and reasonable solution, the statement said.

On the broader issue of China-India relations, Dai and Menon reviewed the all-round and rapid growth of bilateral relations since the beginning of the century, agreeing to make concerted efforts to boost the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership that benefits the two peoples.

Later Tuesday, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Menon at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi said it is helpful for both countries to keep in close contact on border issues.

"Since the border issue consultation mechanism between special representatives was established in 2003, the two sides have been working fruitfully and laid the groundwork for future work," he said.

Friendship and cooperation has been the norm for China-India relations over their six decades of diplomatic ties, Xi said, adding that "the two countries are cooperative partners and not competitors."

The world offers ample room for China and India to seek common development, Xi said.

Xi underlined China's commitment to developing good relations with India, pledging stronger political trust, deeper mutually-beneficial cooperation and expanded people-to-people exchange.

Menon said his talks with Dai were successful and voiced India's resolute determination to ensure peace and tranquility in the border area while advancing bilateral cooperation.

Saying India-China relations have global significance, Menon said India hopes to work closely with China in politics, trade and economics, infrastructure, culture and other fields to take the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level.