China and India have agreed to continue negotiations over their border disputes after guiding principles for the settlement of the issue were signed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao's India tour.

"Special Representatives of the two countries will continue consultations to come up with a framework to lay a foundation for an official border survey and demarcation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in a news briefing Tuesday.

The principles were formally signed in New Delhi on Monday by India's national security adviser M.K. Narayanan and Chinese vice foreign minister Dai Bingguo. Dai called it "one of the most significant documents in India-China relations."

In June, 2003, the Chinese and Indian prime ministers appointed special representatives to explore guiding principles and framework on the settlement of the China-India boundary issue. " After five rounds of meetings, the two countries signed the guiding principles on Monday," said Kong.

Both sides agreed it is in the interests of the two peoples to develop strategic a cooperative partnership, said Kong. "Both sides are convinced that an early settlement of the border question will advance the basic interests of the two countries and should therefore be pursued as a strategic objective," he said.

China and India agreed to solve the boundary issue in a peaceful and friendly manner, without resorting to force or threat of force, said Kong. "The two countries will seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary issue proceeding from the overall interests of bilateral relations," he said.

Kong said the two countries should make compromising adjustments acceptable to both sides and solve the boundary issue in package. "They should take into consideration each other's strategic and reasonable interests in settling the boundary issue. "

The border should be demarcated along a distinctly marked and easily recognized geographical feature to protect the residents around the border areas, he said.

However, China and India should respect and "strictly honor" the line of actual control prior to the final settlement of the border issue to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, said Kong.