By IANS,
Chennai : Ahead of his visit to China, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said that tension between the two countries had “reduced considerably from 1995 onwards” even though their border dispute remains unresolved.
He pointed out out that India had accepted the McMohan Line on the eastern sector of its border as “its natural boundary” while China contested this. However, ever since both countries had accepted the Line of Actual Control, tension had reduced in all sectors, said Mukherjee, who was here on a brief visit here to inspect of the local office of the external affairs ministry.
Mukherjee embarks on a four-day visit to China Wednesday during which he will discuss the entire range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the decades-old boundary row and the intensification of economic ties.
Mukherjee will hold talks with his counterpart Yang Jiechi and also call on Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing.
“We are trying to resolve issues with China”, the minister said, adding: “We have pointed out that Prunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. We are regularly launching protests with China on the incursions (along our borders).
“There are some incursions. We have asked the security forces to be alert and maintain vigil over the border to stop the incursions,” he added.