China voices firm opposition to Indian leader’s visit to disputed border area

BEIJING - China said on Monday that it firmly opposes a visit by India’s President, Ram Nath Kovind, to a disputed area on the China-India border, urging India to “refrain from moves that complicate boundary issues, and work with China to create conditions for talks”. China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the comment when asked about the visit to what Xinhua called the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" on Sunday.

China's stance on the issue of the China-India border is consistent and clear, Lu said at a daily press briefing.

"The Chinese Government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh'," said Lu.

The two countries have been resolving border issues via negotiation so as to seek a fair and reasonable solution that can be accepted by both sides, he said. "But before that, both sides should jointly safeguard the peace and stability on the border."

Arunachal Pradesh is the northeastern-most State of India, bordering the States of Assam and Nagaland to the south. It shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east and is separated from China in the north by the disputed McMahon Line. A major part of the State is claimed by China, which refers to it as "South Tibet".  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).