07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

BEIJING, Jan 6: China and India will hold talks in Beijing this month in an attempt to solve their long-standing border issues, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The talks will be the second time special representatives from the two Asian giants meet following discussions in New Delhi last fall. "The two sides are currently in consultations on the concrete agenda for the meeting," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular briefing.

"We hope that against the backdrop of the continuous development of Sino-Indian relations, the two sides' representatives will ... actively inquire into and solve the border issues between the two countries," he said. He did not identify the delegates of the two countries, which fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962.

However, China is likely to be represented by Vice Foreign Minister Dai Binggao, and India by National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra. Dai and Mishra were appointed envoys by the two governments during a trip by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to China in June last year.

When the two met in India in October, they had talks in a ""cordial, constructive and cooperative atmosphere," according to the Indian side, which did not disclose details of the discussions.

The two countries have yet to demarcate their regions with an established border, and instead use the post-conflict Line of Actual Control to identify their respective territories.

India accuses China of occupying 38,000 sq km (14,670 square miles) of territory in Kashmir. Beijing lays claim to 90,000 sq km (34,750 square miles) - all of Arunachal Pradesh state, the scene of the border war between the two.

ELECTIONS: Meanwhile, BJP president N. Venkaiah Naidu said Tuesday the party has asked workers to be 'ever-ready' for general elections. He said that a final decision on the timing of the elections will be taken next week, adding that the confidence of workers was soaring following the party's triumph in three of four state polls in December.

"We are now confident of realising Mission 2004," Naidu told reporters here, saying the goal was to secure a clear majority in parliament for the ruling 25-party coalition in the upcoming general elections.

Naidu said that a final decision on whether to go for polls earlier than the scheduled date of October would be taken at a two-day meeting of the party's executive on January 11 in Hyderabad Deccan.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani has already said that he was in favour of early general elections. "The party is setting the agenda for the nation and its people. The party has a cohesive and most accepted leadership," he said.- AFP