New Delhi: India and China have begun the 10th round of border talks in New Delhi. Both sides will try to make progress towards a framework agreement on the boundary issue.
The two sides will also discuss the key question of Arunachal Pradesh. India is keen that China drops it claims to Tawang. China, on the other hand, feels that the boundary question should not impede progress on other aspects of the bilateral relationship.
After the initial round of talks in New Delhi, Indian representative M K Narayanan and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo will head to picturesque Connoor in the Nilgiris. A visit to Ooty is also on the cards.
A formal ceasefire line was never established after the 1962, but the border has remained mostly peaceful after agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996.
The Indian delegation at the talks was led by National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan while China's Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo headed Beijing's team.
In April 2005, India and China signed an agreement setting out the “guiding principles” to arrive at a border settlement pact.
During a visit to New Delhi in November, Chinese President Hu Jintao said both sides would accord priority to resolving the border row.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries have increased in recent years with the exchange of many bilateral visits and two-way trade touching two billion dollars a month, Trade Minister Kamal Nath said in New Delhi on Friday.
According to sources Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plans to visit China in 2007.
(With agency inputs)
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