Prez tells Xi,we have to ensure peace at border

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an early settlement of border issues, President Pranab Mukherjee called for maintaining peace at the border.

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an early settlement of border issues, President Pranab Mukherjee called for maintaining peace at the border.

Hosting a grand banquet for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, President Pranab Mukherjee said, “We are both committed to the maintenance of peace and tranquility at our borders; we both would like to ensure that the dialogue mechanisms that we have created for this purpose are error - proof.”

Just ahead of the President Xi’s India visit, Chinese troops intruded into Indian territory, raising tension. “It is important for us to improve the dialogue and co-operative engagement between our two militaries and constantly strive to enhance the communication between them at all levels,” Mukherjee said in his speech.

In his speech, President also maintained that the bilateral ties between the two countries can evolve into a balanced partnership but both countries need to remain sensitive to each other’s concerns and aspirations.

“We are focused on giving a fresh impetus to our joint efforts. We would like to realise the full potential of our many complementarities. At the same time, in order to create and sustain a positive environment for this to happen and endure, it is necessary for us to remain sensitive to each other’s concerns and aspirations,” Mukherjee said at the banquet speech.

Mukherjee was in Vietnam when Xi landed in Gujarat. During President’s visit, the two countries had signed pacts for oil explorations which the Chinese did not take kindly.

The banquet was attended by several VVIPs including Prime Minister Modi, Vice President Hamid Ansari, several ministers and political leaders. According to sources, there was a lavish spread of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items picked from different regions of India.