China-India border defense deal 'a highlight'

BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Thursday underlined the importance of the latest China-India agreement on border defense cooperation, signed during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing.

"China-India agreement on border defense cooperation is a highlight of the prime ministers' meeting... it is significant for consolidating trust and friendship and safeguarding border peace and tranquility," Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

The deal signed between the two countries on Wednesday is built on previous agreements made in 1993, 1996 and 2005 that recognize the principle of mutual and equal security.

According to Hua, it confirmed good practice and experience of border issues in law.

She said the signing of the agreement reflected the resolve of both sides for a friendly and cooperative relationship.

Over the past few decades, China-India border negotiations have maintained sound momentum while the general situation on the border has remained peaceful and stable. The two sides have conducted effective control over border disputes and safeguarded the general situation of common development, the spokeswoman said.

The deal reaffirms both sides will not use their own military capabilities against each other, defines the scope and mechanism of bilateral cooperation and regulates the ways in which border troops and the two militaries will step up links, she added.

"This will help both sides better deal with border-related issues and safeguard border peace and tranquility," according to Hua.

On a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on transborder rivers, Hua vowed that the Chinese departments concerned will implement the agreement and step up communication and cooperation in this regard.

Under the MOU, China and India agreed to work together on provision of flood-season hydrological data and emergency management and exchange views on other issues of mutual interest.