Beijing: China on June 19 said it would like to create a favourable atmosphere for the settlement of the Sikkim issue with India.

"The Sikkim issue is a leftover by history. The two sides have had healthy discussions on this issue," a senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official told reporters at a special briefing ahead of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit from June 22 to 27, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly a decade.

"China would like to work with parties concerned to create favourable atmosphere for the settlement of that issue," the official, who did not want to be identified, said when asked whether the Sikkim issue would be settled during Vajpayee's visit.

China had taken a strong position against Sikkims's "annexation" by India back in 1974 and the North Eastern State of India is still shown as an "independent kingdom" in Chinese maps.

Asked whether the Tibet issue as well the presence of the exiled Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama would figure during Vajpayee's talks with the Chinese leadership, the official said Tibet and Dalai Lama issues are not "a difficult problem" in Sino-Indian relations.

"The Indian side has made a commitment that Tibet is part of China and the Indian government will not allow the Dalai Lama to conduct any political activities within the borders of India," he said.

As to whether the two sides will hold talks about these issues during Vajpayee's visit, the official said, "I cannot speculate right now."

PTI