M.K. Narayanan

NEW DELHI: Indian Special Representative M.K. Narayanan will visit Beijing for two-day talks with his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo on the boundary issue from September 26. This will be the sixth round of talks between the Special Representatives since the mechanism was created in June 2003.

After the landmark agreement on political parameters and guiding principles for settling the border dispute between the two countries in April, the Special Representatives will now focus on the kind of adjustments required in disputed sections of the border.

Article III of the guiding principles says: "Both sides should, in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding, make meaningful and mutually acceptable adjustments to their respective positions on the boundary question, to arrive at a package settlement to the boundary question. The boundary settlement must be final, covering all sectors of the India-China boundary."

It is from this perspective that the Special Representatives are expected to begin their deliberations. According to South Block sources, Mr. Narayanan and Mr. Dai will look at the big picture when addressing the issue of concessions.

The guiding principles state that the settlement has to be a "package" deal covering all sectors of the boundary — western, middle and eastern. The sources point out that while the negotiations will not be easy, the improving graph of India-China ties augurs well.In their April accord, India and China also agreed that: "The boundary should be along well-defined and easily identifiable natural geographical features to be mutually agreed upon between the two sides ... In reaching a boundary settlement, the two sides shall safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas."

The guiding principles also lay down the task to be performed by the Special Representatives. "The Special Representatives on the boundary question shall continue their consultations in an earnest manner with the objective of arriving at an agreed framework for a boundary settlement, which will provide the basis for the delineation and demarcation of the India-China boundary to be subsequently undertaken by civil and military officials and surveyors of the two sides."

According to the sources, the India-China boundary is quiet and tranquil and there is growing understanding between the two militaries. There have been high-level military-to-military exchanges between the two countries, with the Indian Director-General of Military Operations and Director-General of Military Intelligence visiting China recently.

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