Growing neighbourly relations between India-China: Shashi Tharoor

Despite the unresolved boundary disputes, the Indo-China border continues to remain calm and tranquil, Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor today said, emphasizing on growing "neighbourly relations" between the two countries.
    
"The failure of China to recognize Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of the Indian Union is a reflection of the long-standing dispute over the unresolved border. The dispute dates back to the 1950s," Tharoor told reporters here.
    
Asserting that India would like to resolve the dispute, he, however, rued, "We have conducted 13 rounds of talks. But so far there has been no solution. We are still talking."
    
"But equally important is the fact that we have had no incidents on the border. One must recognize that the border remains calm and tranquil," he maintained.
    
Emphasizing on the growing trade relations between the two countries, Tharoor said, "Despite the lack of an agreed border settlement, we are into normal neighbourly relations."
    
China, he said, is India's 'number one' trading partner with respect to manufactured goods.
    
"Chinese companies are opening branches here. Our IT companies are opening branches in places like Shanghai. We have 7,000 students in China and there are regular pilgrimages," the minister said.