India, China resolve to maintain peace along border

Beijing, Jun 5 (UNI) India and China today expressed their commitment to maintaining status quo and peace along the border and decided to expedite holding of talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries to reach a permanent solution on the border issue.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi affirmed their resolve to take steps to facilitate forward movement on bilateral issues and bolster strategic ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Chinese minister elaborated on several measures to push Beijing's strategic cooperative partnership with India.

Briefing about the meeting between the ministers of both nations, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said several decisions were taken during the high-level political exchange to speed up the process of understanding and cooperation.

The meeting also discussed Mr Yang's forthcoming visit to India during this year end and President Pratibha Patil's visit to China next year.

Envoys from the two sides have held 11 rounds of talks and have started negotiations on a framework to resolve the longstanding border issue.

UNI MK SYU RAI2213