In this photograph taken on October 21, 2012, an Indian Army soldier patrols at Bumla Pass on the India-China border in the eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
"I believe we have a mutual interest and we should not destroy years of contribution we have put together," he told reporters on the sidelines of a business event. "I think it is a good thing that we are having a dialogue."
It was unclear if the trip was part of scheduled preparations for a visit by the newly installed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India next month, but it comes at a time of rising friction between the neighbours.
Li is due in New Delhi on May 20 for his first overseas trip, which was agreed last month by the leaders of both countries at a summit in South Africa, The Times of India newspaper reported Thursday.
New Delhi says a platoon of Chinese troops moved into Indian territory on April 15 in a remote and desolate part of the Himalayas where the border is disputed.
India has publicly called on the Chinese soldiers to withdraw, but several meetings between local army commanders and diplomats from both sides have failed to resolve the stand-off.
The Times of India suggested the alleged incursion, denied by China, could be intended to pressure New Delhi into signing a new border cooperation agreement or retaliation for efforts to strengthen the Indian army at the frontier.
While the Indian foreign ministry has sought to downplay the alleged incursion, the army was pressing for "a show of force", the leading daily said on a page of reports entitled "Dragon At The Gate".
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@Atif Ejaz:dear atif 1st of all India is no longer weak as in 1962 and its silence cannot be taken as its weakness technically from military point of view,secondly china is feeling the heat.You know one demand china has made to India is India should stop infrastructure work in ladakh which India rejected and is out of question.This demand of china shows two thing 1st its nervousness and 2nd thing India is building and even completed many infrastructure developments and some is about to complete may be in 2 to 3 years so by 2017-2020 India will have full fledged infrastructure.That is what making china nervous and chinese media which are mostly state controlled in 2013 itself come out with many articles on India showing clear signs of nervousness.I can give links regarding those if wanted or u can search it yourself.
@Atif Ejaz : India does not have anything left to prove to any one else now .I think neither of the parties are foolish enough to start the firings or fightings in this age.Both have sophisticated weapons. The need of the hour is more dialogues than threats or miscommunications.
I agree with those who are saying India should act and retaliate. Foreign Ministry should seriously consider Army's views and inputs.
@Atif Ejaz: Yes this is not the India of 1962 and Bangladesh operations gave preview of this.China for all its bravado is not foolish to indulge in attacks.It is prudent and knows that India is a big market in a world economy shrinking and it cannot afford to rock this boat.So jingoism is nice but not practical.However more than India's border China needs to look out for its border with Pakistan and Xingjian where there is trouble and this will only increase!!!
while incrusions from both sides are common.....no country stays permanently......
So, dear indians, attack the dragon, as you did in 1962. Show the world how brave you are, or wait, your bravery is limited to your conspiring mind only ?