China is willing to continue maintaining communication with India on its officially-organized pilgrims to visit China, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sept.12.

 

Geng Shuang, responded at a press conference to reporters by saying that China has long been putting the friendly China-Indian relations first. It has overcome huge difficulties and put a lot of work into facilitating India's officially-organized pilgrims going on pilgrimage to Tibet.

 

According the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, and in view of the fact that the Sikkim section of the China-India border has been recognized by both China and India, China agreed to open a pilgrimage route into Tibet via Nathu-la pass in the Sikkim section of the China-India border. Over the last two years activities here have been running well.

 

Geng Shuang said that in June this year the Indian army crossed the Sikkim section of the China-India border into Chinese territory, causing tensions in the border area. For security reasons China suspended officially-organized Indian pilgrims' visit to China via the Nathu-la pass.

 

In response to the reporter's question regarding China not providing India with hydrological data, Geng Shuang said that due to the need for rebuilding after the floods' damage last year, and  technical reasons as upgrading and renovation, China's hydrological stations currently don't have the condition to collect relevant hydrological data. "Whether or not they will be able to resume providing hydrological data depends on the progress of the above-mentioned work."