China had outstanding boundary questions with quite a few neighboring countries. A fair and reasonable settlement concerns not only China?s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its boundary tranquility and the peaceful life of its border inhabitants, but also the relations with its neighbors. Therefore, the Chinese Government has taken a most prudent approach towards the boundary questions. China has all along maintained that the boundary questions left over from the past should be settled by both interested parties in a friendly way through peaceful negotiation without resorting to force. While the historical background and the actual circumstances that have taken shape are to be given due regard during the negotiations, necessary adjustments can be made with the consent of both parties. Pending a settlement, efforts should be made to maintain the status quo along the boundary.


At the National People?s Congress in July 1957, Premier Zhou elaborated upon China?s main considerations regarding the settlement of the boundary questions. He said: ?China wants to solve its boundary questions with its neighbours in order to reassure them and seek a relaxed international situation in which to facilitate its economic development rather than strain its relations with them. The foreign policy of peace is our state policy.? ?The Asian and African countries, China included, should play an exemplary role on the question of peaceful co-existence. It is China?s view that all countries in the world should co-exist peacefully?? Our effort to settle the boundary questions must be linked with that to extend the policy of Peaceful Co-Existence?. ?China is a big socialist country, so we must realize that the nationalist countries, whose social systems are different from ours, may have misgivings and fears towards China. On the one hand, we should uphold and safeguard the legitimate interests of our nation, and on the other, we must, and should indeed, set an example of opposing big-nation chauvinism. As for the boundary question, the important thing is that we should act in such a way that the two sides will reach settlement truly on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and friendship and not that we must gain a bit more territory.? ?In carrying on boundary negotiations, we should in addition to holding to the areas which we ought to reach, invoke historically based legal principles while taking account of our new relations with the countries concerned and our policies as well. These of course should be peaceful negotiations, and definitely not otherwise. No force should be used to change the status quo, for otherwise it would contravene our foreign policy of peace?.


By earnestly implementing the above-mentioned principles and policies and differentiating various cases in a practical and realistic manner, China achieved a fair and reasonable settlement of its boundary questions with some of its neighbours in 1960s through friendly consultations.