China and India may agree on guiding principles to help them resolve their border disputes during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi, Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said on Friday.

The current border dispute does not stand in the way of developing friendly and co-operative relations between the neighbours, Wu told a press conference four days before Wen will embark on his four-nation South Asian tour.

The premier's eight-day trip, starting on Tuesday, will take him to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, as well as India.

The visit aims to enhance mutual trust, deepen friendship, expand co-operation and plan the future in the spirit of "being a good neighbour and a good partner," Wu said.

While the premier is in India, representatives from the two countries will meet to iron out principles regarding their differences over their borders, the vice-minister said. Wu said Sino-Indian border issue is "an issue of leftover from history."

Wu said both sides have a special representative consultation mechanism to work out a political guiding principle, and four meetings were already held. Currently, a joint working group and an experts panel are in operation and the mechanisms are "sound."

The fifth meeting is expected to be held during Wen's visit to India and both sides may reach consensus during the meeting, taking into consideration the current situation, said Wu.

He said settling the border issue thoroughly requires time and the guidance of a political principle acceptable to both governments.

The Sino-Indian border has been tranquil since 1993 and called it a "great thing," he said. Sino-Indian relationships have improved and developed overall. He mentioned the first-ever strategic dialogue held in New Delhi in January this year during which both sides exchanged views candidly.

He said the development of bilateral friendship, strategic cooperation, the strengthening of bilateral coordination and cooperation in international affairs will be discussed in the strategic dialogue.

He also disclosed that a joint statement, now under discussion, may be released to summarize the outcome of Premier Wen's India visit as both sides will have an in-depth exchange of views during the visit on furthering bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

The vice foreign minister also reminded India that it has recognized that Tibet Autonomous Region is a part of China and promised to not allow Dalai Lama to conduct Anti-China activities within Indian borders.

Wu said China appreciates and values India's stance on the Tibet issue. "We believe India will continue to be prudent in dealing with the issue," said Wu.

The vice foreign minister said the Tibet question is a major issue that involves China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also described Dalai Lama as "a political exile who undertakes secessionist activities abroad" instead of only spiritual leader.

Wen's agenda in India may also include visit to India's technology hub Bangalore and address a leading university, according to Wu.

On his visit to Pakistan, the premier is expected to discuss enlarging bilateral economic and trade collaborations and to sign a number of agreements, Wu said.

The premier will give a keynote speech at the fourth ministerial meeting of the Asian Co-operation Dialogue, which was established in 2002.

Premier Wen will also take part in activities to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Bangladesh, the vice-minister said.

The official said China is delighted to see a marked improvement in relations between India and Pakistan.

"We hope the two sides will continue to talk and settle their disputes and historical problems through dialogue, thus contributing to the peace, stability and development of the South Asian region," he said.

There exist broad common interests between China and South Asia, and both have similar development goals, Wu added.

"China hopes to see a big South Asian family enjoying peace, prosperity, solidarity and security," he said.

China supports larger role for India at UN

China supports a bigger role for India in the United Nations and the UN Security Council, China's ambassador to New Delhi said Friday.

"We would like to see India play a bigger role at the UN as well as the Security Council," said China's envoy to New Delhi, Sun Yuxi, on Friday.

But Sun stopped short of expressing any direct support for India's candidature for a permanent UN Security Council seat.

"People in the UN are now discussing it (expansion of the UN Security Council)... there are many different ideas...I don't want to make any specific remark on that... I don't want to influence it in any way," he said.

Japan, India, Germany and Brazil have launched a joint bid to win permanent seats on the Security Council. Veto-wielding power is currently in the hands of five powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- in a system rewarding the winners of World War II.

Meanwhile, Sun said the border between India and China, which has been at the heart of a decades-old dispute, should become a "bridge" for friendship between Asia's two most populous countries.

"Our major effort is to keep our border as peaceful and tranquil areas," Sun said.

"We have a common border. We want that the border becomes a bridge for exchanges and friendship," he said.

By People's Daily Online