A day after beginning talks on the boundary question, India and China on Tuesday agreed to set up a working mechanism on border management to deal with important affairs related to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
The working mechanism, mooted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, was finalised here at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Special Representatives (SR) on the boundary question — National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo.
The agreement to establish the “Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs'' was signed by India's Ambassador to China S. Jaishankar and China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.
It will “undertake other tasks that are mutually agreed upon by the two sides, but will not discuss resolution of the Boundary Question or affect the Special Representatives Mechanism.''
The working mechanism will “study ways and means to conduct and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between military personnel and establishments of the two sides in the border areas.''
According to the text of the agreement, the working mechanism “will explore the possibility of cooperation in the border areas that are agreed upon by the two sides.''
It will be headed by a joint secretary-level officer from the Ministry of External Affairs and a Director General-level officer from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and will comprise diplomatic and military officials of the two sides.
“The Working Mechanism will address issues and situations that may arise in the border areas that affect the maintenance of peace and tranquillity and will work actively towards maintaining the friendly atmosphere between the two countries,'' according to the text of the agreement, released by the External Affairs Ministry.
The working mechanism will hold consultations once or twice every year, alternately in India and China. Emergency consultations, if required, may be convened after mutual agreement.
“Can work miracles”
Mr. Dai said on Monday that Sino-Indian ties have made “substantial progress'' and “can work miracles'' together. He observed that the two sides have “scaled much height'' and “produced some results'' on the framework for settlement of the boundary issue.
The two sides expressed their belief in respecting and abiding by the Line of Actual Control, pending a resolution of the boundary question. They noted that strengthening peace and tranquillity on the India-China border areas was “very significant'' for enhancing mutual trust and security between the two countries, for resolving the boundary question at an early date and for building the India-China strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity.
While establishing the working mechanism, the two sides aimed for timely communication of information on the border situation, for appropriately handling border incidents and for earnestly undertaking other cooperation activities in the border areas.
During the two-day talks, the Special Representatives also agreed to prepare a joint record on the progress made so far on the border question.
“Making a positive appraisal of the current state of bilateral relations, the SRs noted the importance of regular high-level exchanges and strengthened cooperation across different areas between the two countries,'' an External Affairs Ministry statement said here.
India and China. 

India and China planned to resolve boundary disputes peacefully and develop friendly relations with each other in the 15th round of boundary talks begun Monday. , , represented India while  represented China.

To control the Sino-Indian border effectively, Liu Zhenmin, China's Assistant Foreign Minister, and S. Jaishankar, India's ambassador to China, signed an agreement titled "Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs". The text of the agreement, as released by the , states, "The mechanism will undertake other tasks that are mutually agreed upon by the two sides but will not discuss resolution of the Boundary Question or affect the Special Representatives Mechanism."

The agreement allows live contact between the countries' foreign offices for problems along the Sino-Indian border, officially called the  (LOAC). Also, meetings are to be held in each of the two countries alternately, once or twice annually. The two sides see the agreement as an important step in gaining trust and strengthening each other.

 have not been good since the  of 1962. The relations lapsed in 2011 due to visa rows and exploration of oil in . Further, the Dalai Lama's refuge in India has caused friction with China. China also claims 90,000 square kilometers of land governed by India in the Tibetan region and India claims 38,000 square kilometers of Kashmir held by China.

Analysts say China is facing both economic problems, and difficulties with neighbouring countries. Its major allies North Korea and Pakistan have their own troubles. China maintains unfavorable relations with other neighbours like Vietnam, Australia, and Japan.

The 'return to Asia' strategy of the United States focuses on China, and India figures in it as an important ally.

Dai wrote in a newspaper column, "What we face is a golden period to grow China-India relations. The world has enough space for China and India to achieve common development, as there are so many areas for us to work together". He further added during the session, "While working hard to develop itself, China is fully committed to developing long-term friendship and cooperation with India."

Dai claimed trade between the two countries has increased by a factor of 20 in the last ten years. He summarized, "As neighbors and two big countries with a combined population of 2.5 billion, China and India can join hands, seize the historic opportunity, and work together to further advance our friendship and cooperation".

The boundary talks were to be held in November, but were postponed over Chinese disapproval of India allowing the Dalai Lama into a Buddhist meet in New Delhi.