Amid reports of incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that India and China can seek to resolve the boundary issue ?at an early date? through ?friendly consultations?. The issue took centrestage at Xi?s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the latter sought clear ?clarification? on the LAC and the Chinese President assured that Beijing has the ?determination? to resolve the problem.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Modi said, ?I also suggested that clarification of LAC would greatly contribute to our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility and requested President Xi to resume the stalled process of clarifying the LAC.? Responding to Modi?s ?serious concerns?, Xi said the two sides are ?fully capable? of acting promptly and effectively so that such incidents ?do not have a large impact on the bilateral relationship?.
Delivering the keynote address at an event organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) later in the day, Xi reiterated, ?We can?t let it (differences over border) stand in the way of overall growth of our strategic relationship.?
Modi is learnt to have raised the issue during their dinner meeting in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, and again conveyed New Delhi?s concerns at the bilateral meeting on Thursday.
?The boundary question is an issue left from history. Over many years, the two sides have made steady and positive progress in boundary negotiations through friendly consultations. China and India have maintained peace and tranquility in the border areas. China has the determination to work with India through friendly consultations to settle the boundary question at an early date.