Beijing, July 25: Maintaining a diplomatic silence on the Sikkim issue, China today stressed that the historical legacies of the past should not impede the overall development of bilateral relations. Welcoming Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement in parliament on Wednesday on his landmark visit to China from June 22 to 27, Foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan stressed that during the visit, China and India have reached important consensus on the development of bilateral ties. "China and India have reached important consensus. The leftover questions of history should not impede the overall development of bilateral ties," Kong said when asked to comment on Vajpayee's statement. "We believe that so long as the two sides demonstrate trust and enhance dialogue, any question can find proper settlement," the spokesman said. While Kong did not respond to Vajpayee's remark on the Sikkim issue that both India and China have initiated a process by which Sikkim would not be an issue in Sino-Indian relations, he welcomed prime minister's statement on Tibet. While Kong did not respond to Vajpayee's remark on the Sikkim issue that both India and China have initiated a process by which Sikkim would not be an issue in Sino-Indian relations, he welcomed prime minister's statement on Tibet.

Bureau Report.