Beijing: China and India are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last. Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks were held to resolve the face-off in eastern Ladakh, but no conclusion has been made so far. Amid the border tension,  China on Friday said the border issue with India should not be linked with bilateral ties.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the border issue should not be linked with bilateral ties, even as it welcomed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's comment on the significance their ties and the importance New Delhi attached to relations with Beijing.

In comments posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website, Zhao said, "External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's stress on the significance of China-India relations showcases the importance the Indian side attaches to its ties with China. We approve of that." He further added, "Meanwhile, I need to stress that the border issue shall not be linked with bilateral relations. This is also an important lesson learned through the two countries' efforts over the past decades to keep our ties moving forward."

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