Ahead of a crucial round of special representative-level talks on the Sino-Indian boundary issue, China said the two sides should proceed forward in the "spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation."

"China believes that as long as the two sides proceed forward and conduct patient, thorough and friendly consultations in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, we can find a fair and reasonable framework acceptable to both sides so as to lay the foundation for the final settlement of the boundary issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

The seventh round of the China-India boundary talks between the special representatives of the two countries will be held from March 10 to 14 in India. National Security Advisor M K Narayanan will lead the Indian side while China will be represented by Executive Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo at the talks.

The special representatives will continue to explore the framework for resolving the border issue from the political perspective and keeping in view the overall bilateral relations, Qin said

The talks assume significance as the two sides are expected to exchange high-level visits this year to mark the first-ever 'India-China Friendship Year.'

Qin said China and India enjoy "sound relationship. We have maintained consultation on relevant international issues."

"The Indian side has briefed us on the relevant information regarding the India-US nuclear issue through diplomatic channels," he said.

China had earlier reacted guardedly to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, hoping the cooperation of "relevant countries can contribute to these efforts, conforms to the regulations of the international non-proliferation regime and their own international obligations."

"As a signatory party to the treaty, China hopes that non-signatory countries can get on board as non-nuclear states at an early date, and contribute to a stronger international non-proliferation regime as well as the regional and international peace and stability," Qin had said on March 2.

Meanwhile, Chinese sources said that Beijing [Images] attached high importance to further developing the Sino-Indian relations which was upgraded to strategic levels during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's successful tour to New Delhi in April last year.

"China attaches great importance to developing good-neighbourly friendship with India and the establishment of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership of cooperation oriented towards peace and prosperity last year marks that the relations between both sides have entered a new stage," one source said.

With the marked improvement of Sino-Indian relations, there has been a great improvement in the atmosphere for the solution of the border issue, Chinese analysts said.

They said that the resolution of the boundary issue at an early date conforms to the fundamental interest of both sides and it is hoped that both sides will start from the overall perspective of their relations to further discuss the framework for resolving this issue.

Quoting Chinese Premier Wen, the experts said that the present level of China-India relations is hard-won and deserves to be cherished.