Manmohan, Wen bilateral meet positive

Hua Hin, Thailand: Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, met for a scheduled bilateral meet in Thailand on Saturday and agreed to build "trust and understanding" in their bilateral relationship.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being welcomed on his arrival at Hua Hin International Airport to attend the India- ASEAN and EAS summits, in Thailand

The bilateral, which extended to nearly an hour, was held at Hotel Dusit Thani, the venue of the ASEAN and East Asia summits.

Wen said: "We want to have a healthy and steady relationship with India. I hope we can use this opportunity to exchange our views on all related issues."

The meeting was sought by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao earlier this month after a verbal spat between the two countries over two high profile visits to the Indian north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh snowballed. The Chinese took objection to the proposed visit of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as well as that of the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh as part of an election tour.

China claims all of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its own territory.