New Delhi: Referring to the joint statement issued by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the Chinese military called for dialogues to resolve the contentious border issues between the two sides.
There are differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but the two sides can resolve this through dialogues, it said.
“The China-India boundary dispute is an issue left over from history. The boundary between the two countries has not been demarcated till now and there are differing perceptions with regards to the Line of Actual Control," the military said in its first comments on the incident which cast a shadow over Xi's high-profile visit to India.
The two countries wish to build a closer developmental partnership, it added.
"The border troops of China have always strictly observed the relevant agreements signed between the two countries. The two sides can properly resolve issues arising in the border areas through dialogue and consultations," the PLA communique said without specifying how to resolve the issue.
"They (Xi and Modi) also reiterated that pending a final resolution of the boundary question, the two sides would continue to make joint efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," it said.
"We are willing to work with the Indian side to earnestly implement the important consensus agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries and work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the China-India border areas," it added.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that Xi's visit to India removed ‘some suspicions' between the two countries and pushed the ties to a ‘new age'.
"We can say President Xi's visit to India has removed some of the suspicions of two countries and pushed bilateral relations to a new age," Hua said.
She also said that during talks an important consensus was reached on resolving the border issue politically through friendly coordination.
“Both India and China recognise peace and tranquillity on the border areas as an important guarantor for the development and continued growth of bilateral relations,” she added.
