As Modi, Xi hold talks, China says border standoff 'effectively controlled'

China on Thursday tried to play down the continuing border standoff at Chumar coinciding with the visit of President Xi Jinping to India, saying the incident has been "effectively controlled and managed".

"China and India attach great importance to the incident you mentioned. With immediate and effective communication, this has been effectively controlled and managed," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing replying to a question on the standoff and whether China rushed more troops.

"The border issue is a left over issue. China and India through mechanism and consultations have maintained peace and tranquility in the border areas for many years," he said.

"China hopes to continue to work with the Indian side to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas and solve the border issue thorough consultation and dialogue," he said.

Earlier, it was reported that the Chinese side pushed in more troops into Chumar village along the Line of Actual Control before the break of dawn on Thursday with more banners asking the Indian army to leave the area. Both the armies were maintaining a distance of 200 metres from each other.

The entire issue started on Sunday when Indian troops detected a construction activity being undertaken by the Chinese side well within the Indian territory in Chumar. The army stopped the activity and increased its strength.

The two sides have held two flag meetings so far which included a marathon discussion on Wednesday that continued for several hours and remained inconclusive.

On Xi's visit to India, Hong said the Chinese president was warmly welcomed in Gujarat, and had in depth discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We hope for a full success of this visit so that the strategic partnership between China and India can be brought to a new level," he said.

Hong quoted Xi's article published in India in connection with his visit, saying China-India relations today are attributed to the strategic mutual trust and communication between the two countries as well as the expanded cooperation areas and mutual beneficial cooperation between the two sides.

"It is also attributed to people-to-people exchanges and solid social foundation between the two countries as well as sincerity and mutual respect for each other's concerns so as to properly handle relevant issues and disputes. I believe that this visit will bring a new chapter in Sino-India relations at this historic moment," he said.

Asked whether China expects India to approve Maritime Silk Road proposal and revival of Ancient Silk Road, Hong said during the visit China and India should communicate on the relevant issues. "We look forward to forming important consensus with India in this regard."

Elaborating on both the Silk roads, Hong said Xi proposed them last year to be constructed along with neighbouring countries. "These two initiatives are aimed to deepen beneficial cooperation with neighbouring countries so as to boost common development and prosperity," he said.

"The Silk Road witnessed cooperation between China and neighbouring countries. It also witnessed China's peaceful stance in history. At this new historical era we take this cooperation with out neighbouring countries under the frame work of the Silk Road," he said.

"We wish to inject new vitality to this time honoured cooperation between China and neighbouring countries so that we can achieve win win cooperation and bring real benefits with peoples of our countries," he said.

Image: A view of the last Chinese army post as seen from the Indian side at the India-China border in November 2009. Photograph: Reuters