"The discussions in Joint Working Group-15 were held over three sessions and were positive and forward-looking. Both sides reviewed the on-going process of Line of Actual Control (LAC) clarification and confidence building measures," the Indian Embassy said in a press statement here after the conclusion of the Expert Group meeting as well as the JWG.

How India can overtake China

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who led the Indian side to the two-day session, responded positively on the talks saying: "We had very good discussions during our JWG meetings.

"It was important to have this meeting because the JWG has not met for more than two years and we are very happy that we have been able to revive this process, which is an important element in terms of our search for a settlement of the boundary issue", Saran told PTI.

Commenting on the just-concluded talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters here that the visit by the Indian Foreign Secretary to China was "quite productive" in furthering bilateral ties.

Jianchao also noted that Chinese leaders used the opportunity to discuss with Saran ways to further improve Sino-Indian relations ahead of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 1.

The fifth round of negotiations between the two Special Representatives will be held in New Delhi prior to the state visit of Wen, who will be in India from April 9-12, Saran said.

"We are looking forward to the visit by the Chinese Special Representative Dai Bingguo to India in advance of the visit of Premier Wen", he said without mentioning a specific date for the meeting to be held in New Delhi.

India-China: Who will give in And how much?  

The fifth meeting of the Special Representatives would be the first between M K Narayanan, India's newly appointed Special Representative who is also the National Security Adviser, with his Chinese counterpart Bingguo, who is also the Executive Vice Foreign Minister.

During the JWG, both sides highlighted the importance of the implementation of the bilateral agreements of 1993 and 1996 for maintenance of peace and tranquillity and for furthering confidence building measures in border areas so as to promote mutual trust and confidence which is essential for the objective of a settlement of the boundary issue.

The JWG-15 noted the progress in the work done in the meetings of the Expert Group since the previous meeting of the JWG. The Expert Group met here on March 29.

Saran, who co-chaired the JWG meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, held in-depth talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest.

More reports from China