India says wants to solve boundary dispute with China

New Delhi, Mar 20 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon has said India and China are attempting to find a solution to the vexed boundary dispute

"While we attempt to resolve our differences such as those on the boundary, we will not allow those differences to prevent engagement in other fields. Neither side has attempted to change the status quo on the border while we seek a boundary settlement," Menon said at a book release function here last evening.

China said on Thursday that it was ready to resolve trade disputes with India, including a ban on imports of Chinese toys, a day after Beijing raised the issue with the World Trade Organisation.

In February, India imposed a six-month ban on import of Chinese toys on health safety grounds, but relaxed the ban last month. India now allows such imports if they are certified by global safety agencies.

The row has been closely watched as an example of trade tensions between developing countries at a time when fears are growing that protectionist measures could make the economic crisis worse.

According to official figures, India's export to China stood at 10.8 billion dollars and imports were at 27.1 billion dollars during 2007-08. (ANI)