China announces Khurshid's visit;border row not to affect ties

Announcing the visit of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing on May 9, China today said both nations are committed to resolve the dispute over the presence of PlA troops in Depseng valley in ladakh through talks without letting it to "affect" bilateral ties.

Khurshid, who would be coming here on a two-day visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, would meet Chinese leaders besides holding talks with Wang, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told media briefing here.

During his visit the two sides will have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations as well as issues of common interests, she said adding that details about the meetings with Chinese leaders would be released later.

"We would like to make joint efforts with India to boost China-India strategic cooperative partnership through this visit", she said.  Khurshid's visit was expected to pave the way for the visit Chinese Premier li Keqiang's visit to New Delhi later this month.

li, who took over as Premier last month after the leadership change, wants India to be his first stop in his maiden foreign tour to signal China's desire to deepen friendly relations with India.

li's visit to India and Pakistan is expected to be announced after Khurshid's visit here.

Noting that Khurshid's visit "represents one of the major high level interactions between China and India this year", Hua said the two sides are trying to resolve the differences over People's liberation Army (PlA) troop presence as Daulat Beg Oldi in ladakh region.

"While actively developing friendly cooperation, China and India are also committed to resolving disputes including the boundary ones through peaceful negotiations and try to ensure that this kind of disputes will not affect the development of the bilateral relations", Hua said.India wants the platoon of Chinese troops, who haveerected their tents in that area, to pull back and restore the status quo.

For its part China claims that its troops have not violated or trespassed the line of Actual Control (lAC) agreed by both the countries.

"The two sides are in communication though the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on boundary affairs and border meetings for a solution to the incident in part of the China-India border", she said.

"China stands ready to work with India to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas between China and India", Hua said.

While military officials of both sides held three flag meetings to resolve the issue, efforts are being made to find a solution through the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on boundary affairs headed by Foreign Ministry officials of both sides. The mechanism was established last year.

Hua said that relations between both the countries were progressing well.

"In recent years China, India relations have scored considerable progress with ever deepening political mutual trust, fruitful achievements in practical cooperation as well as sound coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues", she said.