Monday, June 26 2006 18:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: As India and China held fresh round of talks on the vexed boundary issue today (June 26, 2006), Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said bilateral ties were in 'good shape' since the enunciation of 'Guiding Principles' for the settlement of the problem.

"Our bilateral ties are in good shape since last year when I visited India and we established the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the settlement of the India-China boundary question," Wen told India's Special Representative for border talks and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan when the latter made a courtesy call on him.

"You are not only the Special Representative (for the India-China border talks) but also a friendship envoy," Wen, who returned yesterday after a seven-nation official tour of Africa, told Narayanan.

The Chinese Premier said India and China have formed a strategic partnership last year during his visit to New Delhi and since then, frequent high-level exchanges have taken place which has boosted bilateral ties.

Earlier, Narayanan and his Chinese counterpart, Dai Bingguo held two rounds of talks here following their informal parleys in the northwestern city of Xian.

The eighth round of border talks will last till tomorrow. Naryanan is also scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

The new round of negotiations is taking place after the recent successful visit to China by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee as well as last week's historic agreement between India and China to reopen the Nathu La border trade point.