India, China hope to wrap up talks in next 2-3 rounds

Kumarakom, Kerala, Mar 12: The special political representatives of India and China today resumed their seventh round of talks on the border issue, expressing optimism about reaching an agreement on the framework for border delineation within the next two to three rounds.

Talking to reporters in this backwaters resort before resuming their talks, which started in New Delhi yesterday, Chinese Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and India's National Security Advisor M K Naraynan said that their talks were progressing well, and if the talks continue to make headway at the present pace, they could arrive at an agreement in the next two to three rounds.

''We are working on a package proposal on all the sectors of the border. Once we have arrived at a political framework, then the actual delineation of the border will take place,'' Mr Naraynan said.

Mr Dai also said that the two sides had made a good start and hoped that an agreement would be reached ''as early as possible.'' Describing the boundary issue between India and China as a ''complex and long-standing one,'' Mr Narayanan said that the talks between the two political representatives as well as the strategic dialogue between the two foreign secretaries had ''made a great deal of progress''.

''We hope to have an agreement that both sides are mutually comfortable with and that will strengthen the India-China relationship,'' he added.

Asked if an agreement would be reached before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to China, Mr Narayanan said no dates had been fixed yet for the visit. In fact, the Chinese president Hu Jintao would be visiting India before that, he added.

The Indian and Chinese political representatives, heading a 10-member delegation each, will continue their talks here tomorrow also before leaving for Kochi en route to Delhi and Singapore respectively.

Earlier, on their arrival at the 'Taj Garden Retreat' in the picturesque tourist resort of Kumarakom, the delegations were given a ceremonial salute by the Kerala Police, followed by a traditional Kerala welcome with 'panchavadyam' and jasmine garlands. Over lunch, they were treated to a performance of the famous 'kalaripayattu' martial arts of Kerala.

A houseboat cruise on the famous backwaters of the Kuttanad, accompanied by dinner, is on the cards for tonight.

UNI