China, India to map future of ties during Hu visit

BEIJING, Nov 16 (Reuters) Chinese and Indian leaders will chart the future of relations during a visit by China's President Hu Jintao, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said today, brushing aside a dispute over their contested border.

China reaffirmed its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which borders Chinese-ruled Tibet, earlier this week, throwing a wrench into relations ahead of president Hu's November 20 to 23 trip.

''In their talks, they will map out the future direction and development of relations,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference.

''Our position on the border question is consistent and clear.

We uphold a solution that is acceptable to all parties, that is fair and rational and based on mutual consultation,'' she said.

President Hu's trip had been expected to make progress on the border issue, which has so far seen little movement, but China's ambassador told Indian media on Monday that Beijing claims all of the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese territory, fuelling mistrust.

During his trip, the president will attend an investment summit, sign an agreement on economic and trade cooperation and issue a joint statement on the achievements of the visit, Ms Jiang said, without giving details.

Despite political mistrust, economic ties are booming, with ade between the two likely to hit 20 billion dollars this year from just 260 million dollars in 1990.

REUTERS AKJ HT1515