Union External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said pending the resolution of the boundary issue, the endeavour of both the countries is to ensure that peace and tranquillity are maintained in the border areas.
"Certainly, there are outstanding issues between India and China. The Special Representatives are discussing the boundary question and both countries have agreed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to this issue," he said replying to a discussion on the working of his ministry.
"The matter is complex and requires time and patience," he said. The statement assumes significance as it comes ahead of talks between Special Representatives -- National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo in New Delhi on August 7 and 8. The upcoming talks will be the 13th round of such parleys between the special representatives since 2003.
On the issue of construction of a dam by China on the Brahmaputra, Krishna said both countries instituted a mechanism of expert level talks to focus on issues like exchange of flood control data and emergency response management.
Observing that India has a strategic and cooperative partnership with China, Krishna said both countries established architecture for dialogue through which all issues of common interest and concern were discussed.
Bilateral trade has grown significantly and a target of 60 billion US dollars by 2010 has been jointly set, he said. The 'Shared Vision for the 21st Century' signed by the Prime Minister with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in January last year has added a regional and multi-dimensional aspect to bilateral ties, he added.
