Wu Bangguo meets India's national security advisor

Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Tuesday met with India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress(NPC), the country's top legislature, spoke highly of the progress made regarding a China-India meeting mechanism between special representatives on boundary issues that was set up in 2003.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Menon held talks on boundary issues on Monday.

China and India share a 2,000-km-long border that has never been formally delineated. The two countries had a border conflict in 1962.

Both sides began to discuss border issues in the 1980s. To maintain peace and stability in their border areas, the two sides signed two relevant agreements in 1993 and 1996, respectively.

In 2005, the two countries signed a political guideline on border demarcation during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India.

Wu said the two countries should take a strategic and all-around view, equally negotiate, respect and understand each other and make progress using the current mechanism.

Wu said he is convinced that the two countries have the capability and wisdom to resolve boundary issues.

Menon said India expects to enhance talks at various levels with China, expand pragmatic cooperation and settle boundary issues through friendly negotiations.

India will not let boundary issues exert a negative impact on its overall relations with China, Menon said, adding India is confident about the prospects of bilateral relations.

As the two biggest developing countries in the world, China and India are Asian neighbors and countries with ancient civilizations, Wu said.

Over the past decade, China-India relations have become mature and stayed on a healthy and stable track, Wu said.

As the international situation is undergoing profound changes, China and India share extensive common interests, enjoy broad room for cooperation and face new opportunities for development, Wu said.

Stressing China would like to see a stable and flourishing India, Wu said it is China's strategic choice and policy to step up good-neighbor friendship and cooperation with India.

Wu said China would like to work with India to deepen political trust and boost bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, which complies with fundamental interests of both countries and works for regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.

Menon said both countries are confronted with the same development goals and require a peaceful and stable surrounding environment.

It is significant to the two countries and the world to deepen India-China relations, said Menon.

Menon underscored India's commitment to developing a strategic cooperative partnership with China that is oriented toward peace and prosperity.

Menon concluded his Beijing visit on Tuesday afternoon.