India, China working very hard to resolve boundary question: PM

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said India and China were working very hard to find a "practical" and "pragmatic" solution to the boundary question and its resolution would take time.

"We have the border problem and that problem has to be resolved. We are working very hard to find to have a practical, pragmatic solution to that problem," he said at a press conference here when asked about relations between India and China.

Noting that both countries "recognise that it would take time", he said the two countries have agreed that pending the resolution of the border issues, peace and tranquillity should be maintained along the Line of Actual Control and by and large that situation prevails on the ground.

On the overall Sino-India relations, he said the economic content of the relationship has increased significantly, with China today being India’s largest trading partner.

There are large Chinese investments in our country and there are large Indian investments in China. "On the economic front the relationship is moving in the right direction," he said.

On multilateral issues, he said, there was a recognition in China that there was a similarity of approach between the two countries and they can gain by working together.

In this context, he referred to the Copenhagen conference on climate change last December during which India and China worked closely to block developed nations from imposing their agenda.