New Delhi: India and China began the seventh round of talks on resolving the sensitive border issue on Saturday.
Little progress is expected although the two sides have agreed on a framework of principles to resolve the issue.
The Indo-US nuclear deal will also figure in the discussions. China is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its support could be crucial if the group is to amend its rules for India.
This is the first time the talks will move to another location for two days, the luxurious Kumarakom resort in Kerala.
The Chinese side is led by Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and India by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.
Ahead of the talks, China had said the two sides should proceed forward in the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation.
“China believes that as long as the two sides proceed forward and conduct patient, thorough and friendly consultations in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, we can find a fair and reasonable framework acceptable to both sides so as to lay the foundation for the final settlement of the boundary issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing on Thursday.
Dai called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before he met with his Indian interlocutor. India and China fought a border war in 1962 and have long had adversarial ties, but relations have warmed in recent years and the two countries have expanded economic ties, including plans for joint collaboration in oil exploration and information technology.
(With Agency inputs)
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