In order to find a solution to the festering border dispute, India will have to accept the “new reality” of the Chinese presence in areas it claims sovereignty on,External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on Monday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the annual convention of Indian Association of International Studies, Khurshid said that “in converting their relationship into a meaningful partnership, India will have to accept the new reality of China’s presence in many areas that we consider an exclusive area for India and its friends.”
Speaking to reporters later, he said there could be a “slow and steady improvement” in the path towards a solution to the dispute. “In terms of results that you get from talks, you can’t have any immediate results because it’s a very complicated and sensitive area,” he said.
Earlier this month, NSA Shiv Shankar Menon held the latest round of the Special Represenative talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.