India, China reaffirm need for peace on border

ss Trust Of India / Cha-am Hua Hin (thailand) October 26, 2009, 0:55 IST




In the wake of the recent controversies over Chinese incursions, India and China have reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility on border pending resolution of the “complex” issue.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao here yesterday on the sidelines of the Asean-India and East Asia Summits, said the two leaders had discussed all issues, including the boundary row, problems concerning common rivers and matters related to Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

“I had a frank and constructive exchange of views with Premier Wen,” the PM told a press conference before winding up his two-day visit here.

“We discussed all these issues and agreed that the existing mechanism of bilateral cooperation should be used to resolve all issues in the spirit of strategic and cooperative partnership,” he said.

Singh said the two leaders had “reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility on the border pending a resolution of the boundary question. Both of us agreed that we should continue and strengthen efforts to build political trust and understanding.”

Describing the boundary problem as a “complex issue” which “cannot be wished away”, Singh said: “Pending the resolution of the boundary question, both countries have an obligation to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.”

He noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi would visit India in two days and the foreign ministers of the two countries would have an opportunity to “discuss all issues which have bearing on our relationship”. The Singh-Wen meeting came in the backdrop of war of words over Arunachal Pradesh and some other issues like the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to the state.