China-India talk on border issues

China's top legislator has said Beijing will continue to consolidate ties with India and welcome the South Asian country's stability and prosperity.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Indian National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, who was in Beijing on Tuesday to co-chair the informal dialogue on special border issues with State Councilor Dai Bingguo.

Despite changes in the international situation, the two countries share many mutual interests, and there is much potential for cooperation, said Wu. He also urged both sides to move forward with the talking mechanism for the final settlement of the border issues.

Menon said India hopes the border issues will not affect overall bilateral ties as the two countries need a peaceful and stable neighboring environment to reach the same developmental goals.

Strengthened India-China relations have important significance for the two countries and the world, Menon added.

China and India experienced a brief border conflict in 1962. The two countries launched the mechanism of meetings between special representatives on border issues in 2003.

Both sides had 15 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives since 2003, with the last being held on January 16 and 17 this year.