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China and India have engaged in consultations and close contact aimed at the proper handling of problems along their border, Hua Chunying, Chinese?foreign ministry spokeswoman, said yesterday.

Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, speaks at the press conference on Thursday.

In response to Indian media reports of a "stand-off" along a western part of the China-India borderline, Hua Chunying said the two sides were communicating with each other on border issues.

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Indian officials claim that for two weeks, Chinese soldiers have refused to move back over the so-called Line of Actual Control that divides Indian-ruled territory from Chinese-run land.

Hua said Chinese troops had been carrying out normal patrols and had not crossed the boundary.

"China is firmly opposed to any acts that involve crossing the Line of Actual Control and sabotaging the status quo," she said at a daily briefing in Beijing.

Hua said talks to defuse the dispute were ongoing and relations should not be affected.

"As we pointed out many times, the China-India border issue is one which was left over from the past.

"The two sides reached an important consensus that this issue should not affect overall bilateral relations," Hua said.

Local army commanders from both sides have held three meetings over the crisis, according to Indian officials.

Through this contact, both sides have learned more about each other's concerns, helping to find an appropriate solution to the problems, Hua said.

"We believe that China and India are wise and capable enough to handle the existing differences and problems while boosting friendly cooperation between the two countries," she added.

She said it was inevitable for the neighboring countries to have certain problems along the border.

"What is important is that the two sides should resolve the problems by friendly consultation through the mechanisms and related channels," the spokeswoman said, adding that maintaining peace and stability along the border was in both countries' interests.

China is India's biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade crossing US$75 billion in 2011.

Though the two countries have held 15 rounds of talks, their border disputes remain unresolved.

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