Special Representatives of India and China resumed the border settlement talks into the 9th round but as usual refused to divulge details of deliberations but are apparently still working on the April 2005 “political parameters” and “guiding principles.”

India is represented by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and China by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo. Only a few days ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Chinese Premier Web Jiabo on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Cebu, Philippines and both agreed to pursue discussion with “great vigour and greater innovativeness.” During Chinese President Hu Jintao visit to India in November 2006, both nations agreed to resolve the boundary settlement as a “strategic objective” as it would advance basic respective interests. Through the 1993, 1996, and 2005 bilateral agreements, both nations have agreed to “maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.