PM, Kan exchange notes on China, agree engagement best way

Tokyo, Oct 25 (PTI) With both India and Japan having
territorial disputes with China, Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan India
Monday exchanged notes on dealing with the big neighbour and
agreed to engage with it closely and productively to resolve
their issues.
During the course of their discussions, Kan and Singh
discussed what kind of relations their countries had with
China, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters
while briefing on the talks between the two leaders.
Japan has maritime dispute with China while India has
land boundary issue to resolve with that country.
Rao said the two leaders discussed how important their
relations were with China from the strategic, security and
economic point of view and how both countries desire peaceful
and productive relationship with China.
They deliberated upon how it was important to engage
China in "closer and more open dialogue," she said, adding the
Indian side cited examples in this regard.
The Japanese Prime Minister was interested in knowing
from Singh the development of India's relations with China in
terms of trade and economy which has grown even while issues
remain.
Talking about the disputes with China, Rao said Singh
mentioned the "very well functioning system" to discuss these
differences with China in an "engaging way".
Both sides felt that "this is the best way to deal
with China to draw it into productive discussions to resolve
issues."