BEIJING, May 23 - On the eve of President Pranab Mukherjee�s visit, China today struck a positive note saying that both the countries have been taking positive steps to manage the border dispute and that it is ready to �accelerate� talks to resolve the vexed issue �at an early date�.
�China is ready to work with India to accelerate negotiations and resolve this historic issue at an early date to move forward bilateral relations,� Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, responding to Mukherjee�s remark that India wants fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to solve the border issue.
�We will extend warm welcome to President Mukherjee,� on his first visit to China, Hua told reporters.
She said �China and India are committed to resolve territorial disputes through negotiations seeking a fair and reasonable settlement which is acceptable to all.�
�In the past three decades and more the two sides have been taking positive steps to properly manage disputes and safeguard peace and tranquillity of the border area creating favourable conditions for sound and sustainable development of bilateral ties,� Hua said responding to a question on Mukherjee�s comments to Chinese media on the issue.
Mukherjee, who arrives in the Chinese industrial city of Guangzhou on a four-day visit to China tomorrow, has told Chinese media that India seeks a �fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the (border) question.� � PTI
