BEIJING, June 24: India officially recognized Tibet as a part of China on Tuesday as the two neighbours tried to close the door on long-standing disputes and chart a new relationship.

Ties between the Asian giants have for decades been plagued by tensions over issues such as Tibet and the two countries fought a bitter border conflict in 1962.

But a joint declaration signed on Monday by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, said India for the first time explicitly recognized Tibet as a part of China.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan called India’s recognition of Tibet as Chinese territory “an important and positive expression”.—AFP