Beijing: Ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's maiden visit to India, Beijing has expressed satisfaction over its upgraded strategic ties with New Delhi and said there has been "progress" on the boundary issue. "Boundary negotiations have made progress and border areas have remained peaceful and tranquil," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its latest issue of `China's Foreign Affairs 2006.' The annual report of the Ministry did not elaborate on the nature of "progress" made during talks between special representatives since New Delhi and Beijing signed the agreement on the `Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question' in 2005. However, it noted that the signing of the agreement during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India last year marked the "successful conclusion" of the first phase of negotiations on the framework for settling the boundary question. The unsettled boundary question will be one of the major topics for discussion when the Indian leadership holds talks with Mr. Hu, also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), when he visits India from November 20.

The report also comes ahead of the the eighth round of border negotiations to be held in New Delhi next week by the special representatives — Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan.

The report noted that overall bilateral relations were elevated to a higher level — strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity — and that bilateral ties have witnessed growing friendly exchanges and cooperation on all fronts. "Frequent high-level interactions and deepening mutual trust underscored the good momentum of political relations," the report said.During Mr. Wen's visit, the two sides released the Report of China-India Joint Study Group on Comprehensive Trade and Economic Cooperation and agreed to conduct a feasibility study of China-India Regional Trade Arrangement. The two sides have also set a target of $20 billion or more by 2008 for bilateral trade. In the preface, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing pointed out that China's independent foreign policy is designed to promote peace, development and cooperation, and aims to enhance the economic and social development of China, the grand cause of its peaceful reunification, and the progress of the Chinese people and mankind as a whole. "Although difficult issues have kept emerging and the world is not yet peaceful, cooperation has become the natural choice of an ever-increasing number of countries in their pursuit of peace and development," Mr. Li said.

The Minister stressed that China's contribution to upholding world peace and promoting common development is widely recognised by the international community. — PTI

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