Faster efforts for framework to solve India-China border dispute

Beijing, Jan 16 (UNI) Apparently enthused by the growing closeness between India and China on a host of issues, the top leadership of the two countries has decided to instruct the Special Representatives of the two sides to accelerate their efforts to work out an agreed framework for the resolution of the border dispute.

In the backdrop of these developments, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, the SRs of the two sides, for discussing the vexed border dispute, yesterday held talks in Beijing and took stock of the developments on the issue. They had lunch together and spent about two hours holding discussions.

According to sources, they explored possibilities for expediting talks for finding a mutually agreeable solution of the long-pending border dispute.

The Representatives, who have already completed eleven rounds of talks over the issue, expressed satisfaction over the developments so far.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao have also expressed satisfaction on the progress of talks and decided to instruct the SRs to accelerate the talks.

Both the sides have decided to keep contentious issues out of the purview of the discussions of the SRs.

During the talks with the Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao it has been mentioned to Dr Singh that pending the final settlement, peace and tranquility would be maintained along the border in accordance with the agreements already in place.

Asked about the reports that China was insisting on not leaving some populated areas from the purview of the talks on the issue, highly placed sources said there was no change in the already agreed parameters. Perceptions of both the sides on some areas in some sectors may differ, but all aspects are being looked into by the SRs, according to top official sources.

On the question of starting of the stalled process of exchanging of maps, official sources said every issue was being tackled in the background of different perceptions on borders.

During the Chinese Premier's visit to India in April 2005, Special Representatives of the two countries had finalised the guiding principles to resolve the vexed boundary dispute in a mutually acceptable manner.

Sources said the agreements on maintaining peace and tranquility on borders was being followed and more confidence building measures to promote mutual trust and confidence were being taken.

The two countries have also decided to conduct more joint military exercises. Recently, such an exercise was conducted at Kunming, China.

The India-China boundary issue is being dealt by a three-tier dialogue mechanism. Apart from the Special Representatives, the two sides have Joint Working Groups as well as an Expert Group to discuss the vexed issue.

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