China terms boundary row as 'very sensitive issue'

However, it noted that the two sides had agreed that their strategic cooperation in other areas should not be affected by the decades-old row.     

"Tremendous changes" had taken place in Sino-India relationship compared to the past and a strategic partnership had been agreed to, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei told reporters here.     

He said the leaders of the two countries had taken a strategic view of the relationship.     

Both sides, Wu said, had agreed that they need to work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the boundary area and "strategic cooperation between China and India in other areas should not be affected by the boundary question."     

"China and India have a common border of over 4,000 kms. This is ... A very sensitive issue," Wu said.     

He said "people were collecting firewood or chopping trees