Beijing: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an "outcome-driven" maiden visit to China before May 26, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday as she held talks with her Chinese counterpart on key issues and emphasised that maintenance of peace and tranquillity at the border was a pre-requisite for the development of ties.
The 62-year-old leader, who is on her first visit to the communist nation after she assumed charge last year, said the Prime Minister would undertake the visit before the BJP-led government completes one year in office.
Swaraj, while addressing the media after a lengthy round of talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, said modalities for the operationalisation of the second route of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet via Sikkim has been finalised.
Both sides exchanged notes under which the first batch of pilgrims would travel through the route from June this year. Her talks with Wang stretched to over two hours followed by dinner. They discussed the resolution of the border issue, which is being tackled by Special Representatives of both the countries.
Swaraj said Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping were leaders with strong "will power" and both think out of the box. They could find a solution to the dispute during Prime Minister Modi's "outcome-driven visit", she said.
Both sides agreed that the resolution of the border dispute should not be left to future generations. Earlier in the day, Swaraj, while addressing an India- China Media Forum at the start of her maiden visit here, said India is committed to an "early settlement" of the vexed boundary issue.
She proposed a six-point template to build Sino-India ties to realise the common dream of the 'Asian Century'. "Our relationship today has reached a level where we have interactions in fields that could not have been imagined some years ago. We have made considerable progress in establishing and expanding defence contacts and exchanges, including across our border.
"They contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity there, a pre-requisite for the further development of our relationship. On the boundary question, my government is committed to exploring early settlement," Swaraj said, referring to the long-pending boundary issue. Her remarks come as the bonhomie in ties has been marred by recent border standoffs.
Xi's visit to India in September last year was overshadowed by the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Chumar region in Ladakh which was finally resolved with the simultaneous withdrawal of troops after hectic rounds of talks.
At the meeting with Wang on Sunday, Swaraj held in-depth discussion on bilateral issues. Swaraj's visit, to make preparations for Modi's trip, also set the pace for the 18th round of border talks in which National Security Adviser Ajit Doval would represent India for the first time as Special Representative.
Swaraj and Wang discussed a possible date for the next round of border talks. She will call on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.
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