Need to handle Sino-India differences wisely: Chinese diplomat

Beijing, Jan 12 (PTI) Gearing up for his visit to India for the 15th round of boundary talks, top Chinese diplomat Dai Bingguo said the two countries should handle differences "wisely, calmly and properly" to prevent them from becoming "barriers" in improvement of ties. The boundary talks are set to be held next week after being postponed in November over China's objections to the presence of the Dalai Lama at a Buddhist conference in New Delhi. "We should deepen cooperation and coordination, enhance cooperation in international and regional affairs.... We should think and act in the interest of overall China-India relationship," Dai, designated higher than the foreign minister in the Chinese hierarchy said at a meeting held in the newly-built Indian embassy here. His remarks came after a series of incidents in recent days that have again sparked tensions between the two sides. "We need to handle the issues between the two countries wisely, calmly and properly and prevent them from becoming barriers", he said, adding, "Instead we should handle them successfully so that they promote progress in our bilateral relations." Dai who has been the designated Chinese Special Representative in the Sino-Indian boundary talks virtually ever since it began will be taking part in the 15th round of border talks with India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon in New Delhi on January 17. PTI