Sino-India talks on border talks begin in TN

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Apr 20: Indian and Chinese diplomats, who arrived here amid tight security, will begin their two-day talks on the border dispute this evening.

The Indian delegation headed by M K Narayanan, National Security Advisor, arrived here this morning, while the ten-member Chinese delegation led by its Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, reached here in the afternoon.

The first round of talks was initially scheduled for this afternoon, but it was put off to the evening as the Chinese delegation arrived only around 1400 hrs and desired to go for sight-seeing before the start of the meeting, sources said.

The Indian delegation, comprising Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to China and senior officials from the External Affairs Ministry arrived in Coimbatore by a special aircraft from Delhi and flew by helicopter to Wellington. The delegation reached Coonoor by road.

The Chinese delegation also arrived by a special aircraft to Coimbatore and reached Coonoor by road. Tight security arrangements were made right from Mettupalayam upto Coonoor, 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.

Newspersons, who arrived from various places to cover the event were having a harrowing time as the officials were tight-lipped and no authentic information was forthcoming about the timing of the first round of the talks.

Initial reports suggested that the meeting could be held at 1700 hrs or 1900 hrs.

UNI