India-China begin talks on border issue

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) India and China today began talks to put in place a mechanism for management of the border between the two nations, an issue that has been an irritant in bilateral relations. National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon led the Indian team at the 15th round of the Special Representatives meeting with the Chinese delegation led by State Councillor Dai Bingguo here. The meeting was to be held in November last year but had to be postponed after China protested Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's participation at a global Buddhist meet in the capital around the time of the talks. India had then rejected China's demand for cancellation of the Buddhist congregation leading to the postponement of the talks. Dai and Menon are expected to discuss putting in place a mechanism for border management mooted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to India in 2010. A decision to set up the mechanism was taken at a meeting Wen had with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Sanya in April 2011. PTI Caption for pic: India's National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon (R) and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo shake hands before the 15th Round of India-China Special Representatives Talks in New Delhi on Monday. PTI Photo