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Wen advocates patience, sincerity in resolving border row with India

Beijing: China has advocated sincerity and patience in resolving the long-standing Sino-Indian border dispute.

Ahead of the next round of boundary negotiations here between the special representatives of the two countries, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has expressed confidence that both the sides can find a solution to the problem.

Against the backdrop of the growing Indo-U.S. strategic relationship and reports that Beijing was concerned over it, the Chinese leader also said the two countries do not pose a threat to each other.

“Undeniably there are some outstanding issues between China and India but we have established guiding principles to seek solutions to these issues.”

“I believe that as long as the two sides demonstrate sincerity and patience and uphold the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutual understanding, we are bound to find solutions to this issue. Both China and India value universal love and harmony,” Mr. Wen said in an exclusive interview to PTI.

Beijing and New Delhi had appointed in June 2003 special representatives to address the border issue from a political perspective of overall bilateral relations. A formal ceasefire line was never established after the war in 1962 but the border has remained mostly peaceful.

The two special representatives, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and Executive Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo are expected to meet soon for the 11th boundary negotiations here. The two met last time in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu in summer.

India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq kms of Jammu and Kashmir including 5,180 sq km illegally ceded to Beijing by Islamabad under the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese leader said that both he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had repeated on many occasions that the development of the two countries was “each others’ opportunity rather than a threat”

“Only with the development of both China and India can there be the possibility of ushering in a true century of Asia and can Asia enjoy comprehensive development in the real sense.” China and India enjoyed more than 5,000 years of civilisation. — PTI

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