Cooling the cauldron.

India and China FMs discuss contentious issues at meet but no progress on border dispute<p>INDIA and China on Tuesday held discussions on contentious issues, including the boundary dispute, with an aim to de- escalate recent tensions.

The two nations also decided to expand economic and defence cooperation at the ninth Russia- India- China trilateral meet in Bangalore.

At the end of a 90- minute meeting between him and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, foreign minister S. M. Krishna said both sides had a " fruitful exchange of views" on all aspects of bilateral relations.

He indicated that issues such as the longrunning boundary dispute, alleged Chinese transgressions into Indian territory, China's objection to Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the upcoming visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang figured during the discussions.

It is believed that the two nations also discussed the construction of a proposed dam by China on the upper reaches of the Bramhaputra, Chinese assistance to projects in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir ( PoK) and the Chinese embassy policy of issuing different visas to Kashmiris.

South Block sources described Tuesday's meeting as a follow-up of the meeting between Indian and Chinese prime ministers on October 24 at Hua Hin, wherein Singh had raised India's concerns on the Bramhaputra dam and categorically stated that the Dalai Lama was an "honoured guest of New Delhi".

The external affairs ministry has already cleared the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang for a week beginning November 8. "We welcomed the positive outcomes of the meeting between the two PMs in Thailand last week. We also discussed how to further develop our relations in the light of the PMs' meeting," Krishna said at the end of the meeting at Hotel Leela Palace.

He described his talks with Yang as "warm". But it was learnt that no progress was made on the border dispute at the meeting.

The PM had said in Thailand that the boundary question was " complex which cannot be wished away". " This meeting could be seen as an effort to address the issues that have surfaced over the last few months," a senior official claimed.

This was evident when Krishna expressed satisfaction with the talks. " We both see this as part of the process of building trust and understanding at the political level," the foreign minister said. " We agreed on the importance of further developing high- level exchanges, of enhancing trade and economic cooperation and on progressing our defence contacts." Sinologist Dr Srikanth Kondapalli said, " There was no significant outcome from the meeting. However, it was part of efforts to de- escalate tension. Status- quo was maintained by both sides." He said this indicated that the next joint exercise by the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army could be held shortly.

Kondapalli said the absence of specific mention of the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal in Krishna's statement meant that India is firm on its stand. " A shadow boxing match could still be going on between both sides on the issue."

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