BEIJING, April 9 � China today said its �huge dispute� with India over Arunachal Pradesh is an �undeniable fact� even as it echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s views that the two countries should create favourable conditions for a mutually-acceptable settlement of the vexed boundary issue, reports PTI.
�There is a huge dispute in the eastern border of China-India border. This is undeniable fact,� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hu Chunying told media here when asked about the Indian government extending the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Arunachal Pradesh.
�China always holds consistent and clear position on the China-India boundary question. The two sides should make joint efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity of the border area and create favourable conditions for the negotiation of the boundary question,� she said.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,126 km border with China and 520 km border with Myanmar. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet.
China calling the border issue a �huge dispute� and �undeniable fact� is seen as an attempt by Beijing to flag its stand on Arunachal Pradesh ahead of Modi�s expected visit to China next month.
Her comments came as the top defence officials of the two countries are meeting here ahead of the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) scheduled for tomorrow.
Hua sounded positive while reacting to Modi�s remarks on the border issue made in an interview to an Indian newspaper. �We have taken note of remarks made by Prime Minister Modi. China has always taken a positive attitude on the China-India boundary question,� she said.�
�Last September while visiting India, President Xi Jinping said publicly that China is confident of resolving the boundary issue together with the Indian side though friendly negotiations and maintaining peace and tranquillity of the border area,� she said.
