China firm on border issue with India

By Chen Jia (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-12 06:47

India should be "fully aware" that China's stand on the two countries' outstanding border issue is always consistent and clear-cut, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday.

"The Sino-India boundary issue has never been officially settled, and China is always against the illegal McMahon line," he told a regular press conference in Beijing.

Qin made the remark in response to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's claim in a speech on Sunday that "Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India".

"It was a shame India claimed it publicly, regardless of historical facts," Qin said.

Pointing out that China would like to work with India to find a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" solution to the boundary question, he said peaceful and friendly bilateral dialogue is necessary for both sides.

Also yesterday, Qin said China's "fast and stable economic development is its biggest contribution to the world".

The country faces many challenges as a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, but China would like to cooperate with the international community in the face of the global economic crisis, he said.

Accordingly, the central government unveiled a 4-trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus plan on Sunday.

President Hu Jintao will exchange ideas on how to address the economic crisis with other top leaders of the Group of 20 nations at a Washington Summit this week.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Commerce Minister Chen Deming are preparing to attend the 20th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, Peru, Qin said.