New Delhi: India and China have agreed to continue discussions on the boundary settlement issue, Rajya Sabha was informed yesterday (Dec 14, 2006) .

There have been eight meetings of the Special Representatives so far, the last being on June 25-27, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a written reply.

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions based on the agreement signed on April 11, 2005," Mukherjee said adding Special Representatives of India and China were appointed in June 2003 to explore the framework for a boundary settlement from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship.

Under the so-called agreement between China and Pakistan on the boundary between China's Sinkiang and the contiguous areas, the defence of which is under the actual control of Pakistan, Pakistan ceded 5180 kms of Indian territory in Shaksgam valley in POK to China in March 1963, Mukherjee said.

He said India's principled and consistent position on J&K is that the entire state is an integral part of the Indian Union.

"A part of the territory of the state is under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan", Mukherjee said adding India is committed under the Simla agreement and the Lahore Declaration, to resolve all issues with Pakistan peacefully through bilateral discussions.

He said three round of talks have been held on Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of the Composite Dialogue.