India and China on Tuesday discussed various aspects of the agreed framework for a settlement to their boundary dispute and decided to hold the next round of talks between their Special Representatives on the issue in India at a mutually convenient date.
National Security Adviser and India's representative at the talks M K Narayanan and his Chinese counterpart Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo held two-day talks in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province and Beijing. The two have been tasked with finding a package boundary deal within the framework of the guiding principles.
"The Special Representatives continued their discussions on an agreed framework for a boundary settlement on the basis of the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of India-China Boundary Question," the Indian Embassy said in a brief statement after the conclusion of the in-camera negotiations.
"Talks were held in a friendly, cooperative and constructive atmosphere," the release said, commenting on the eighth round of talks on the issue. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of talks between the Special Representatives in India at a mutually convenient time, which will be decided later through the diplomatic channel, the release said.
Narayanan also held separate meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing during which they discussed bilateral issues and especially the ongoing boundary negotiation process.
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