On the eve of President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit, China on Monday struck a positive note saying that both the countries have been taking positive steps to manage the border dispute and that it is ready to “accelerate” talks to resolve the vexed issue “at an early date”.
“China is ready to work with India to accelerate negotiations and resolve this historic issue at an early date to move forward bilateral relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, responding to Mukherjee’s remark that India wants fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to solve the border issue.
“We will extend warm welcome to President Mukherjee” on his first visit to China, Hua told reporters, adding, “China and India are committed to resolve territorial disputes through negotiations seeking a fair and reasonable settlement which is acceptable to all.”
“In past three decades the two sides have been taking positive steps to manage disputes of the border for development of bilateral ties,” Hua said.