Special representatives of China and India finished the eighth round of talks on boundary question in Beijing on Tuesday, sources from China's Foreign Ministry said.

Indian National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan (right) with China's executive vice-foreign minister Dai Bingguo in New Delhi in 2005. China and India opened their eighth round of talks aimed at resolving a decades-old border dispute that led to a brief war more than 40 years ago. [AFP]

The talks began from June 25. Special representatives of the two countries are Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and India's National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan.

Officials with the ministry said the special representatives had exchanged views on the framework of resolving the boundary question in a friendly and frank atmosphere.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in New Delhi, capital of India. The timing will be decided through diplomatic channels.

The Indian guests are visiting China from June 24 to 28. During their stay in China, they visited Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also met with them.

The talks on boundary question between special representatives of ministerial level started in New Delhi in October 2003.