Boundary dispute could be resolved through SRs: PM, Hu

Berlin, June 7 (UNI) Lavishing praise on one another, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao today expressed confidence that the boundary dispute between the two countries could be resolved through the ongoing negotiations between their special representatives (SRs).

Confirming that the issue figured at the 35-minute meeting between the two leaders, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said Dr Singh and Mr Hu reposed faith in the talks between the National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, but did not take up the recent spat over China's refusal to grant visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh.

The two leaders agreed that the special representatives could work out an ''early solution'' under the guiding principles and political parameteres finalised during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to India in 2005.

Mr Menon said the very fact that the SRs had met twice this year showed that they were working ''very hard'' and there was ''progress.'' Asked about Chinese Foreign Minister's recent contention that his country's claim over Arunachal Pradesh could not be weakened by any argument, Mr Menon merely said this was part of the negotiations between the SRs.

In a brief statement before going into the talks, Dr Singh described China as India's ''greatest neighbour'' and said New Delhi would do everything possible to have strongest relations with it.

On his part, Mr Hu lauded Dr Singh for his ''vision and insight'' and the positive attitude that had contributed to the growth of the bilateral relations to a better understanding in the past two years which witnessed an indepth exchange of views.

The Chinese President renewed his invitation to Dr Singh to visit China, while the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to the visit which was being worked out at the diplomatic level.

Mr Menon said since the enunciation of the 10-point strategic cooperation during the visit of Mr Hu to India in November last year, the relations between the two countries were growing at a never-before pace with comprehensive engagements across a range of activities.

''We have done very well on trade which witnessed a 56.8 per cent growth at over 11 billion dollars in the first four months of this year. At this rate, the two countries were well on course to doubling their trade to 20 billion dollars much before the deadline of 2010,'' he said.

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