BEIJING: For the second time in a week, China refused to confirm minister for external affairs Salman Khurshid ’s planned visit to Beijing on May 9 to discuss the border row . The Chinese foreign ministry also did not respond to a specific question about whether premier Li Keqiang would meet Khurshid.

“Both sides are in close communication on the border question. We will release information about Indian foreign minister’s visit to China in due course,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. She had made a similar “due course” statement about Khurshid’s visit after the foreign minister had announced his plans a week ago.

Hua said China is “firmly opposed to any action that crosses the LAC (line of actual control)”. The statement seemed to suggest she was referring to some construction work on the Indian side, which has been reportedly opposed by Beijing.

Replying to a question whether China regards Indian fortifications as border trespassing, Hua said both China and India have “reached consensus (on maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas) and we are firmly opposed to any action that violates that consensus”.

Hua said the stand-off along the LAC can be resolved “quickly” because the two countries are in consultation with each other. She added that the two sides are in close contact and “the relevant negotiation mechanism is conducive to solving the relevant issue quickly”. She advised the media to be patient, and give more time to the governments of the two countries to resolve the issue.

“Pending final settlement, it’s very important for both sides to maintain peace in border areas. China and India have reached a consensus on that and we are firmly opposed to any action that violates the consensus,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party-run Global Times commented that India needs to do more “to clarify the so-called intrusion”. It said India “hasn't done so and remained silent and ambiguous, which indulges Indian media habits.”