The relationship between India [Images] and China has improved significantly in the last two decades and the two neighbours are discussing ways to resolve the border issues, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao [Images] said on Monday.

"The relationship between India and China has improved significantly in the last two decades particularly. We have a broad spectrum, multidimensional relationship that covers many areas; which is not just focused on the boundary question," she said.

Resolution of the boundary dispute between the two countries, she said, has not hindered the advancement of dialogue, trade and business relations.

"The rise of China and the rise of India has become an object of world attention. I think, in both the countries, we see a competitive edge but we also see a greater degree of collaboration between the two counties," Rao said.

"There is peace on our borders with China," the Foreign Secretary said.

'India has no plan to scale down operations in Afghanistan'

Meanwhile, noting that recent attacks on Indians in Afghanistan were aimed at forcing India out of that country, Rao ruled out scaling down New Delhi's [Images] operations in the war-torn nation.

"We are not scaling down our operations in Afghanistan, we are taking all necessary security measures to safeguard Indian lives there," she said in response to a question.

Terming it a 'barbaric attack against Indians engaged in humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan' she said, February 26 attack was by those who do not wish any other future for Afghanistan except one that suits their sinister ambitions.

"International community should understand that such attempts, if unchecked, would only embolden the same forces that held sway in Afghanistan in the 1990s and caused the tragedy of 9/11," she said.

Arguing that there could not be a distinction between a good Taliban [Images] and a bad Taliban, she said that would be disastrous for Afghanistan. She said there was 'no quick solution' to the Af-Pak situation and 'it was important for international community, in its own interest, to stay the present course for as long as it was necessary.'