Friday, March 10 2006 18:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The seventh round of the China-India boundary talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries will be held here tomorrow (Mar 11 2006) to find a fair and reasonable framework acceptable to both sides for a final settlement of the protracted issue.

National Security Advisor M K Narayanan will lead the Indian side while China will be represented by Executive Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo at the talks.

Dai will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow before holding intensive parleys with Narayanan.

Ahead of the talks, China said the two sides should proceed forward in the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation.

"China believes that as long as the two sides proceed forward and conduct patient, thorough and friendly consultations in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, we can find a fair and reasonable framework acceptable to both sides so as to lay the foundation for the final settlement of the boundary issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing yesterday.

The Special Representatives will continue to explore the framework for resolving the border issue from the political perspective and keeping in view the overall bilateral relations.

Exchange high-level visits

The talks assume significance as the two sides are expected to exchange high-level visits this year to mark the first-ever 'India-China Friendship Year.'

Qin said China and India enjoy "sound relationship. We have maintained consultation on relevant international issues."

The parleys take place close on the heels of the landmark Indo-US pact on civilian nuclear cooperation. New Delhi has briefed Beijing on the salient features of understanding reached between Indian and the US during the visit of President George W Bush.

China had earlier reacted guardedly to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, hoping the cooperation of "relevant countries can contribute to these efforts, conforms to the regulations of the international non-proliferation regime and their own international obligations."

"As a signatory party to the treaty, China hopes that non-signatory countries can get on board as non-nuclear states at an early date, and contribute to a stronger international non-proliferation regime as well as the regional and international peace and stability," Qin had said on March 2.

New Delhi and Beijing are keen on speeding up the process to find a resolution to the boundary problem that would help give a major impetus to the strategic partnership and the current momentum in bilateral ties.