Two sides hope for China-India border solution

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-10 07:10

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi wrapped up his three-day visit to India Tuesday with both sides agreeing to push forward border negotiations.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Yang on Monday. He said New Delhi hopes to continue its close high-level exchanges will China and promote bilateral cooperation on climate change, disaster relief, financial stability and multilateral trade.

It is India's "political will" to push forward with the border negotiations with China, Singh said. Meetings between special representatives of both sides on the border issue will make further progress, he said.

Yang said China is willing to work together with India toward reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue.

The two sides should also maintain peace along the borders before a solution can be worked out, he said.

"Under the current circumstances where uncertainties in the global economy are rising and energy and food security issues are becoming more prominent, developing countries should take seriously the concerns of each other and take effective measures," Yang said.

Yang also held talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Monday. The two ministers agreed to further promote trade and people-to-people exchanges.

India reiterated its stance of not allowing any anti-China political activities by Tibetans living in India.

Yang left India for Sri Lanka Tuesday and is scheduled to meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama, and pay courtesy calls on President Mahinda Rajapakse and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.