Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao ahead of their meeting on the sidelines of the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane, on Nov. 30. (Photo: AFP)

VIENTIANE, Laos: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao met here on Nov. 30 for the first time and reaffirmed their political will to resolve their border dispute soon –– but said a delay in finding a solution should not hinder expansion of ties in other areas. During a 40-minute meeting, the two leaders hoped the guiding principles in resolving the border issue between the two countries would be finalized soon.

They noted that much progress had been made during two rounds of talks between India’s Special Representative and National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo since the Congress Party-led government took office in New Delhi in May.

External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh also participated in the talks. Wen, in fact, asked the foreign ministers of the two countries to work “very hard” and shook hands with Dixit, recognizing him as India’s interlocutor on the border issue.

Dixit, who briefed reporters after the meeting, said the Chinese premier also assured the Indian side that a decision had been taken by Beijing on recognizing Indian sovereignty over Sikkim.

While Manmohan Singh said India had no anxiety about Sikkim, the Chinese leader indicated that Beijing recognized that Sikkim was an integral part of India. In fact, one of the steps already taken by China is not to show Sikkim as a part of its territory or a separate country on its Web site as also its almanac, officials said.

India, on its part, told Wen that New Delhi’s position on the issue of Tibet –– that it was an autonomous region of China –– was clear and that Beijing need have no worry on the matter.

There was no reference to Pakistan during the talks between Singh and Wen. “There was no mutual paranoia on Pakistan,” Dixit said, adding Islamabad did not figure in the talks.

The Chinese premier also hoped that there would be some positive signals sent to the world when he visits India early next year, indicating that another irritant in relations –– in respect of the territory in Arunachal Pradesh that China has disputed –– would also be set to rest fast.