Tuesday, November 11, 2008

China 'regrets' Indian minister's remark over Arunachal Pradesh

China said here Tuesday that it deeply regretted India's Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee's remarks calling Arunachal Pradesh a part of India's territory.

'We deeply regret the Indian side's remarks, that take no regard of the historical facts. China and India have never officially settled demarcation of borders, and China's stance on the eastern section of China-India borders is consistent and clear-cut,' said foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Qin said the current Chinese government, as well as previous ones, has never recognized the illegal 'McMahon Line' (demarcating the border between India and China by the British), and the Indian side is very clear about that.

Qin was commenting on remarks made Sunday by Mukherjee, in which he said that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of Indian territory and India will suggest to China that the border be opened for trade.

As for the boundary issue between China and India, the spokesman said China is willing to find a solution, which is fair, reasonable and acceptable to the two sides, through peaceful and friendly negotiation in the spirit of mutual understanding and adjustment.

No comments: