China India sign accords to resolve border dispute, boost trade

NEW DELHI, Tuesday (AFP) China and India Monday signed a historic accord setting out "guiding principles" to resolve their decades-old border dispute, a move expected to boost economic cooperation and bilateral ties between the two Asian giants.

The border accord, signed in the presence of visiting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sets out a roadmap to settle the dispute without the use of force. The two countries have also set themselves a target of increasing bilateral trade to 20 billion dollars by 2008 from a current 14 billion dollars, they said in a joint statement.

India hailed Wen's four-day visit, which ends Tuesday, saying a "strategic partnership for peace and prosperity has been established". "It was an extremely successful visit with results that will be far-reaching in character," Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said.

The "three-tiered" border deal, described by India's National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan as "one of the most significant documents" signed by the neighbours, will allow special envoys to negotiate territorial claims as experts delineate the boundary on a map and on the ground.

"For the first time we see a commonality on both sides to find a solution," said Narayanan who worked out the finer points of the pact with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo on Sunday.