On the eve of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's talks with the Indian leadership in New Delhi, Beijing has indicated that it sought an early but fair settlement of the Sino-Indian border issue.

"The early settlement of the issue is one of the ten strategies to enhance China-India Strategic and Cooperative partnership," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jiang Yu said.

"The border talks have generated positive progress in recent years," Jiang said.

She did not say anything further about the political negotiations between the Special Representatives of the two countries to work out a package solution to the border dispute.

During Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India last November, the two sides agreed to accelerate the process of boundary negotiation.

"In line with the consensus between the two leaders, the Special Representatives on boundary issues will intensify their work to seek for a fair, rational framework acceptable to both in accordance with the political guiding principle so as to solve the issue," Jiang commented.

Asked on Li's agenda in New Delhi, the spokeswoman said the main goal is to translate the achievements of two high-level meetings into real benefits.

"The main goal of the Chinese foreign minister is to translate the achievement of President Hu Jintao's visit to India last November and the important consensus between

Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached at the East Asia Summit into real benefits," Jiang said.

Foreign Minister Li will also exchange views with India on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, and draw up the blueprints for the development of bilateral ties this year.

The Chinese foreign minister, who is at present in Nalanda, will later travel to New Delhi for official talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Li will also call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Asked whether China will agree for the setting up of a 'hot line' between the two foreign ministers, she replied in the affirmative.

"At present the two sides are having friendly consultation on the hotline between the Foreign Ministers. We hope to reach an agreement during Foreign Minister Li's visit to India," she said.

During his stay in India, Li will also attend the completion ceremony of "Renovated Memorial House for Hsuan Tsang" and the opening ceremony of "2007 China-India Tourism and Friendship Year" in New Delhi.

Jiang also noted that China and India have maintained close high-level exchanges of visits and contacts in recent years.

It has played an irreplaceable important role to build mutual trust, deepen understanding, and promote cooperation in various fields, she noted.