New Delhi: Moving forward in the complicated exercise of ironing out differences on the boundary dispute, India and China decided to have the next meeting of diplomatic and military experts in Beijing in January.

The issue of exchanging maps on the Western sector could be taken up at the Beijing meeting.

The two sides, which held three sessions of talks at the 14th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on the boundary question, also decided to continue their dialogue mechanism on terrorism in spring next year which would be followed later by security talks, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

The Indian side, led by Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal conveyed its concerns on terrorism and there was a "greater understanding" of this on the Chinese side, he said. The Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi led his side.

The dates for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China were still under discussion, he said.

Asked about the stand taken by China on Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, he said these were complicated issues and both sides were approaching it in a constructive manner.

"We have to work through and resolve them peacefully and according to commitments given at the highest level."

The discussions were held in a "positive and forward-looking manner", he said.

PTI