Sino-Indian relations are in good shape: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Jan 7: Expressing his satisfaction over the ongoing Sino-India boundary talks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that relations between the neighbouring countries are in 'very good shape'. “The process of resolving this (border) issue is on.... It is a complicated matter," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in function of Vinod Rai as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The Prime Minister further said that negotiations on the border issue were being held under agreed parameters and guiding principles. We have very good relations with China. My visit is a return visit," he said. Singh"s visit is a part of the high level exchanges between India and China in recent years, including those by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India in April 2005, and President Hu Jintao"s visit to India in November 2006.

It would be pertinent to mention here that last week External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that nothing dramatic should be expected from the Prime Minister"s visit.

“The visit is expected to be successful. But if you are expecting that there would be any dramatic turnaround on certain issues, which are long-pending, then it would perhaps be too much," Mukherjee had said.

Singh will be paying a three-day visit to China, beginning January 13, to discuss various bilateral issues with Chinese top leaderships. His visit comes after a gap of five years when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a visit to Beijing in June 2003.

Singh is visiting the Communist country on the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People"s Congress of China, Wu Bangguo.

In recent years, both countries have tried to expand trade and diplomatic ties, though territorial disputes persist.

ANI