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India, China hold boundary talks

Beijing: After a year-long hiatus, India and China on Thursday held a fresh round of boundary talks, with Beijing saying the two countries must maintain peace and tranquillity along the border to help in a speedy resolution of the protracted problem.

“Both should maintain peace and tranquillity in the border area before the boundary issue is resolved,” Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan here.

Mr. Narayanan, who is heading the Indian delegation at the talks, said New Delhi also hoped to realise the consensus by the leaders of the two countries to settle the issue at an early date.

The talks are being held amid some tension in bilateral ties in the wake of attempts by China to block a consensus on the India-specific waiver at the NSG meet in Vienna earlier this month.

Mr. Xi hoped that the framework for the resolution of the boundary issue would be “fair and reasonable” and worked out through equal consultation and friendly dialogue.

“The two sides should view the bilateral ties with strategic and long-term perspective, and expand the common ground and properly handle the disputes so as to push forward the long-term and stable relations,” the Chinese Vice- President told Mr. Narayanan.

Mr. Xi said China was committed to developing the strategic and cooperative partnership of peace and prosperity with India.

Mr. Narayanan said India attached importance to ties with China and would promote the relationship. — PTI

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