Sino-India border talks begin in TN

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Apr 21 (UNI) The two-day diplomatic talks between India and China on the border dispute, began here this evening amid tight security.

A total of 21 delegates from both sides were participating in the talks at Taj Garden Hotel here.

While the Indian side was represented by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Indian Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao, the Chinese side was headed by Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Dinggud and Chinese Ambassador to India San Yusi.

Earlier, the delegates from both the sides took some time off to visit the famous Sim's Park before the meeting. They spent around one hour there.

A large posse of mediapersons, who had descended in this lush green district famous for tea estates, was denied access to the hotel.

The Indian delegation arrived in Coimbatore by a special aircraft from Delhi and flew by helicopter to Wellington from where they reached Coonoor by road.

The Chinese delegation also arrived by special aircraft to Coimbatore and reached Coonoor by road.

Tight security arrangements were made right from Mettupalayam upto Coonoor, police sources said.

At the meeting venue, elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident. Security has been intensified in areas where Tibetan refugees were living, the sources added.

The first round of talks was initially scheduled for the afternoon, but put off to the evening as the Chinese delegation arrived only around 1400 hrs and chose to go for sight-seeing.

UNI