China for the first time publicly said today that a process was on to settle the Sikkim problem with India, and that it hoped a solution to the issue could be found.‘‘The Sikkim issue is a question left over by history. During PM A.B. Vajpayee’s visit to China, the two sides launched a process of settling the issue,’’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.Despite India and China signing a border trade agreement through Sikkim during the PM’s visit to China in June, Beijing had not acknowledged the process of recognising the state as part of India. However, China’s Foreign Ministry stopped showing Sikkim as a separate country in October last, prior to Vajpayee’s second meeting with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in Bali. In the briefing, Kong also evaluated the second round of border talks, held in Beijing on January 12-13. National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra held negotiations with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo on the India-China boundary issue. ‘‘The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere,’’ Kong said. —(PTI)
