Arunachal Pradesh integral part of India: Pranab

India has 'clearly' conveyed to China that Arunachal Pradesh is an 'integral part' of the country, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Making a suo mutu statement on foreign policy related developments, Mukherjee said Chinese officials have expressed 'regret' on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh in January.

"The prime minister's visit to Arunachal Pradesh was to assure our citizens that the central government is mindful of their developmental needs, and is ready and willing to assist them through concrete projects," he said.

"The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side by the government," Mukherjee said.

On the boundary question, Mukherjee said that during Dr Singh's visit, both sides 'positively' appraised the work of the Special Representatives M K Narayanan and Dai Bingguo in seeking a mutually acceptable framework for a settlement.

This would be based on the Agreement on Guiding Principles and Political Parameters singed in April 2005. Both sides have also agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas, he said.

Mukherjee said he would be visiting Beijing this year and his Chinese counterpart would also visit New Delhi.

On relations with Pakistan, he said India 'stands ready to resume the Composite Dialogue Process as soon as a duly constituted government is in place' in that country.

Mukherjee said India hoped outstanding issues with Pakistan would be resolved and a mutually beneficial relationship would be built in an 'atmosphere free of violence and terrorism'.

India, he said, was gratified that in the recent elections in Pakistan, the people there were able to express their wishes clearly and in a democratic manner on their own future.

"India wishes to see Pakistan develop and prosper in a stable democratic order," Mukherjee said.