'China-India strategic dialogue to help resolve border row'

Asked whether he believed the talks in New Delhi this week would have a positive impact on the boundary dispute, foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said: "Very simply, yes."

"The two sides have expressed the goodwill to properly resolve the issue," Kong said. "We expect to work hard with India ... so bilateral relations can proceed even faster on a new foundation."

India and China fought a brief border war in 1962 that left their relations in shreds. But in recent years they have played down their territorial dispute to focus on improving commercial and other ties.

Both sides are engaged in discussions to resolve the lingering boundary issue -- a fallout of the 1962 war -- with special representatives holding several rounds of talks since June 2003.

This week's talks between delegations led by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran focused on a regional and global issues including multi-polarity, non-proliferation and terrorism.

Kong described them as "very successful," adding that they were conducive towards regional stability.

Ties between India and China have warmed since a visit to Beijing by then-premier Atal Behari Vajpayee in June 2003.

Later that year, Indian and Chinese forces took part in naval exercises off Shanghai for the first time, opening a new chapter in military ties.