AFP image
New Delhi:
Amid the growing tension between India and China over border dispute, especially involving Arunachal Pradesh, there are now reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Thailand.
The two leaders will be in Thailand for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The official sources have said that hotline between the two Prime Ministers will be ready soon.
The sources have also said that China is building run of the river dam on its side of Brahmaputra, but is not violating any agreement with India.
India on border dispute with China:
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the boundary issue between India and China is "one of the most complicated" border disputes in the world and both countries are determined to resolve it.
"We must take a realistic view that there are differences, there are differences when it comes to perceiving the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas. And there are differences also in terms of conflicting territorial claims," she told All India Radio.
Referring to the recent "focus" on incursions by Chinese troops and to the Arunachal Pradesh issue, she said it "intensifies the need for the two sides to really sit down to resolve these issues with even more seriousness and determination".
On the talks to address the boundary question, Rao said there is "still a lot of ground that we have to cover in terms of narrowing differences and building more understanding. But the progress in this regard is being made, albeit slowly but it is being made surely."
Regarding Chinese protest over the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, she said India takes these seriously.
"Of course we take this seriously, and we have been very very particular and very clear and unambivalent in expressing our position to the Chinese. In that way we have said that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, it is an inalienable part of India," Rao said.
At the same time, she said the protests by China should be seen in the context of the unresolved boundary question between the two countries.
"We are very intensively focused on this issue," said Rao, who was India's ambassador to China before being appointed as foreign secretary in July.
Terming the border issue as "one of the most complicated boundary questions that exist anywhere in the world", she said "I think it is a good development and it is a positive factor that both countries are determined to resolve these issues."
Both countries, Rao said, are convinced that there is no other way to resolve the boundary issue without dialogue.
To press the point, she quoted late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru saying in Parliament in 1962 that "we cannot march to Peking".
She also pointed to the positive aspects, saying the relationship with China has developed in many other areas.
Rao said both India and China can cooperate on a number of important global issues like reform of the international financial system, climate change and Doha round of trade talks as "we have common ground where there is a meeting of minds".
(With PTI inputs)
The two leaders will be in Thailand for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The official sources have said that hotline between the two Prime Ministers will be ready soon.
The sources have also said that China is building run of the river dam on its side of Brahmaputra, but is not violating any agreement with India.
India on border dispute with China:
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the boundary issue between India and China is "one of the most complicated" border disputes in the world and both countries are determined to resolve it.
"We must take a realistic view that there are differences, there are differences when it comes to perceiving the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas. And there are differences also in terms of conflicting territorial claims," she told All India Radio.
Referring to the recent "focus" on incursions by Chinese troops and to the Arunachal Pradesh issue, she said it "intensifies the need for the two sides to really sit down to resolve these issues with even more seriousness and determination".
On the talks to address the boundary question, Rao said there is "still a lot of ground that we have to cover in terms of narrowing differences and building more understanding. But the progress in this regard is being made, albeit slowly but it is being made surely."
Regarding Chinese protest over the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, she said India takes these seriously.
"Of course we take this seriously, and we have been very very particular and very clear and unambivalent in expressing our position to the Chinese. In that way we have said that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, it is an inalienable part of India," Rao said.
At the same time, she said the protests by China should be seen in the context of the unresolved boundary question between the two countries.
"We are very intensively focused on this issue," said Rao, who was India's ambassador to China before being appointed as foreign secretary in July.
Terming the border issue as "one of the most complicated boundary questions that exist anywhere in the world", she said "I think it is a good development and it is a positive factor that both countries are determined to resolve these issues."
Both countries, Rao said, are convinced that there is no other way to resolve the boundary issue without dialogue.
To press the point, she quoted late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru saying in Parliament in 1962 that "we cannot march to Peking".
She also pointed to the positive aspects, saying the relationship with China has developed in many other areas.
Rao said both India and China can cooperate on a number of important global issues like reform of the international financial system, climate change and Doha round of trade talks as "we have common ground where there is a meeting of minds".
(With PTI inputs)
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
