Beijing: China on Wednesday said the latest round
of boundary talks with India had yielded "positive progress"
by upholding the need to maintain peace in border areas and
giving a push to the process of framework negotiations to
settle the longstanding border dispute.
The two days of boundary talks between Special
Representatives -- National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon
and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo -- in New Delhi
resulted in the signing of an agreement for setting up a
mechanism to avert any untoward incident on border.
The agreement was signed after two-days of talks
yesterday during which the negotiators noted the importance of
regular high-level exchanges and strengthening cooperation
across different areas.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the
15th round of talks had "candid and in-depth exchange of views
on border issues and (on) the maintenance of peace and
stability in boundary areas, as well as bilateral relations".
"Both sides believe that the since hosting of the
meeting, positive progress has been reached and both sides
agreed to push for the process of framework negotiations based
on the political guidelines already reached on the border
issue and seek a fair reasonable and mutually acceptable
solution," Liu told a media briefing here.
He was replying to questions on whether any progress had
been made in the just concluded talks.
Liu said the two sides reaffirmed that pending final
solution they would uphold peace and stability of the border
areas.
Though India and China have held discussions to resolve
the border differences since 1980, the process got an impetus
after the two countries agreed to hold talks by designated
Special Representatives in 2003.
The two countries signed agreements in 1993 and 1996 to
maintain peace and stability in the border areas besides
inking a political guiding principle on demarcation of the
boundary in 2005.
Ahead of the meetings, Menon said the boundary talks had
reached the second stage of the three stage process of
agreeing principles, a framework and finally drawing the
boundary line.
Liu said "both sides are satisfied with the sound and
steady development of bilateral relations and they should
stick to the greater direction and goal of the common
development of China and India, step up coordination and
cooperation to push for the comprehensive and in-depth
development of China-India strategic partnership of
cooperation," he said.
About the agreement signed by both sides to establish a
consultation and coordination mechanism on border issues, Liu
said the mechanism will be lead by Director Generals of the
two foreign ministries comprised of diplomatic and military
officials mainly in-charge of handling border affairs related
to ensuring border peace and stability.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 18:17