Centre keen to resolve border dispute with China, says Arun Jaitley

 Bullish on growing trade ties with China, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the government is very keen to see the border dispute getting resolved expeditiously, even as he said India's border with China has been "far more peaceful" than the western borders. 

"India-China trade has increased significantly. Trade has brought the two countries much closer... We have some contentious issues of the past between us, but even while those issues would be resolved in the due course, I think our economic relations have become a symbol of strength and therefore mutual investments in each other's country will be a win-win situation for both of us," he said. 

Jaitley, who is here to meet foreign investors, also said China has established its place as a low-cost manufacturing brand globally and India is now trying to build its Made in India brand with the Make in India campaign. "Great economies do compete with each other and that does not mean they become opponents," he said during his media interactions here.

On border issues, Jaitley rejected the suggestions that it was proxy war-like situation. "I don't think that is the correct expression to use. There is a border dispute and there is a mechanism in place since 2003 in order to look at that dispute," he noted. "We will be very keen to see that the border dispute is resolved very fast. In fact, the border with China has comparatively been far more peaceful than our western border itself," he said.

On opportunities for India to attract FDI after China slowdown, the Finance Minister said, "I see an important opportunity for India and I see that opportunity because the relative slowdown in China does not impact India as such."