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India and China neighbors although they are, the two countries still don’t see eye to eye on all issues political or economic. Today, even though economists may celebrate the increasing trade between the two nations, its still comparatively very small and India and China both need to reach across the lofty Himalayas to cement ties.

Of late the border issue has been thrown up again with China classifying it as ‘a very sensitive issue’ and India forming human chains on the borders to keep China out. The picture alongside demarcates the disputed areas at the border. Unfortunately, the land dispute between India and China is steeped in history and will probably never be solved. However, we need to look into our past to find solutions into the future.

The following is a chronology of events by NDTV marking Indo-China relations since India’s independence until 2002 when Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited India. Six MOUs were signed in New Delhi then to enhance cooperation in Science and Technology, outer space, tourism, phytosanitary measures and supply of hydrological data relating to the Brahmaputra river between India and China.

1947, after independence
India tries to consolidate its position as an independent and sovereign country as the civil war in China reaches its final stage.

December 30, 1949
India becomes the second non-communist country to recognize the Peoples’ Republic of China. The first nation was Burma.

April 1, 1950
K M Panikker appointed as the first Indian Ambassador to China.

December 1950
Nehru backs China’s membership in the United Nations in a Parliamentary debate held in New Delhi.

May 1951
China captures the Tibetan Governor of Chamdo and signs a ”17-point Agreement” in Peking, conceding China’s full suzerainty over Tibet.

April 29 1954
Nehru and Zhou Enlai sign Sino-Indian Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between India and Tibet region of China in Beijing.

May 15, 1954
China and India sign Panchsheel, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence:

1. Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty;
2. Mutual non-aggression;
3. Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs;
4. Equality and mutual benefit, and
5. Peaceful coexistence

June 1954
Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai visits India for the first time.

August 25 1954
Nehru welcomed China’s inclusion in the Geneva Conference for recognition of China as a new Asian country.

February 1955
Indian President Rajendra Prasad distinguishes China’s claims over Formosa, now Taiwan, as justified in Parliament.

March 2 1955
India objects to the inclusion of a portion of India’s northern frontier on the official map of China, saying it was a clear infringement of Panchsheel

November 1956
Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill tour.

September 1957
Indian Vice-President S Radhakrishnan visits China

September 1958
India officially objects to the inclusion areas of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial, an official organ of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic.

January 1959
Zhou Enlai expresses China’s claim on about 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.

April 1959
Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and comes to India. India grants him refuge and sours relations with Beijing.

August 1959
China’s offensive propaganda campaign for the liberation of Ladakh , Sikkim and Bhutan worries India.

June 2 1962
China rejects India’s demands to withdraw its forces from Indian territory.

June 3, 1962
The Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between India and China lapses.

June 10, 1962
Indian and Chinese soldiers face off within a 100yards of each other in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh and an armed clash was narrowly averted when the Chinese withdrew just at a time when India threatened to use force.

July 26, 1962
Both sides indicate willingness to hold discussions on the basis of the Officials’ Report which China earlier disregarded, for the resolution of the boundary dispute.

Jan 1966
China condemns the Tashkent Agreement between India and Pakistan as a product of joint US-Soviet plotting.

1979
Indian Foreign Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visits China.

June 1981
Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hu visits India to discuss establishment of an annual dialogue at the level of Vice-Ministers.

1986
Differences surface over the limits of the Mc Mohan Line in Arunachal Pradesh’s Sumdorung Chu area.

1988
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visits China and sign agreement to set up a Joint Working Group on Boundary question and a Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology signed.

1991
Chinese Premier Li Peng visits India after 31 years, assures to resolve the boundary question through friendly consultations.

1994
Vice-President K R Narayanan visits China.

Nov 1996
Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits India, signs Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the India-China Border Areas.

May 14, 1998
China condemns India’s nuclear tests strongly.

Nov 24 1999
India and China hold detailed discussions in New Delhi on ways to settle their border row.

April 2000
India and China commemorate 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

May 2000
Delegation from India’s National Defence College arrives in China signalling resumption of military ties, suspended after India’s nuclear tests.

Jan 13 2001
India and China agree to counter terrorism together to maintain security and stability.

Jan 2002
The first Shanghai-Beijing-New Delhi direct passenger flight for boosting bilateral business ties and tourism announced by China.

March 29 2002
India and China agree in Beijing to quicken the pace of LAC delineation in order to resolve the vexatious border dispute within a reasonable time-frame.

January 13 and 14 2002
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visits India. Six MOUs signed in New Delhi to enhance cooperation in Science and Technology, outer space, tourism, phytosanitary measures and supply of hydrological data relating to the Brahmaputra river between India and China.