From K J M Varma
Beijing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on his maiden visit to China by May 26 this year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today as she held talks with her Chinese counterpart on bilateral issues and emphasised that maintenance of peace and tranquility at the border was a pre-requisite for development of ties.

The 62-year-old leader, who is on her first visit to the communist nation after she assumed charge last year, said the Prime Minister would undertake the visit before the BJP-led government completes one year in office.

India is committed to reach an “early settlement” to the vexed boundary issue, Swaraj said while addressing an India- China Media forum at the start of her four-day visit here.

She proposed a six-point template to build Sino-India ties to realise the common dream of ‘Asian Century’.

“Our relationship today has reached a level where we have interactions in fields that could not have been imagined some years ago. We have made considerable progress in establishing and expanding defence contacts and exchanges, including across our border.

“They contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity there, a pre-requisite to, for the further development of our relationship. On the boundary question, my government is committed to exploring early settlement,” Swaraj said, referring to the long-pending boundary issue.

At the meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, she held in-depth discussion on bilateral issues.

Swaraj’s visit has also set the pace for the 18th round of border talks in which National Security Adviser Ajit Doval would represent India for the first time as Special Representative, replacing Shivshankar Menon.

Swaraj and Wang today discussed a possible date for the next round of border talks.

She will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow.

Prime Minister Modi has had three successful meetings with Xi, the most important being during the latter’s visit to India in September last year.

Meanwhile, India and China also exchanged notes on modalities for opening the second route for the Kailash- Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet via Sikkim by June, that will allow more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage.

The route through Nathu La Pass will facilitate comfortable travel for Indian pilgrims by buses.

“India-China exchange notes on modalities for additional route for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2015,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

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