Beijing, China: June 7, 2008 – IR Summary -  External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee feels that India and China will have to be realistic as well as patient in resolving the festering boundary dispute. He further said that India does want to enlarge their differences; rather want good bilateral relationship with China.

"We will have to be patient and realistic", Mukherjee said in his speech at the prestigious Peking University while emphasizing that both countries were mature enough to realize and address the "difficult issues" in the bilateral relationship.

"We need to resolve these differences through negotiations in a constructive and forward looking manner," the minister, who is on a four-day visit to the country, said.

Noting that the boundary between the two countries was peaceful and "we are determined to keep it so", Mukherjee said both had evolved mechanisms and gained experience to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

The two countries had agreed on a set of Political Parameters and Guiding Principles to find a mutually satisfactory solution.

Mukherjee, during talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on Thursday, raised the issue of Beijing’s recent claim over the 'finger area' in Sikkim border, while both sides "emphasized their determination to maintain peace and tranquility along border and not to disturb the status quo".

Explaining the contours of India’s foreign policy to the faculty students, he said: “India guards its strategic autonomy and stands by the principles of independence and freedom of action in external relations.”