India, China to let Special Representatives discuss border issue

Beijing, Jun 6 (UNI) India and China will let the Special Representatives of the two countries discuss the border issue while ensuring forward movement on other bilateral issues.

This was resolved at detailed talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told reporters here yesterday.

While in earlier high-level meetings, the border issue used to be at the forefront, but this time round both sides enthusiastically discussed other issues. They agreed to leave the border issue at the Special Representatives level.

The talks between Mr Mukherjee and Mr Yang, which began at around 1600 hrs (local time), continued through dinner last night.

The meal, hosted at Forbidden City, was also an honour for the Indian minister. No other foreign guest has been given this honour by China.

Both the Ministers, who have met four times at different fora earlier, seemed eager to bolster the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The talks were held on the second leg of Mr Mukherjee's four-day visit to China.

He inaugurated India's new consulate in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, yesterday.

UNI MK SKB AS1611