Sino-India border issues can be solved through talks only: Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today linked India's border issues with China to "Tibetan problem" and said a solution can come only through talks and not by force.

The comments came on a day when Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi even as Chinese and Indian armies are in a standoff at Chumar village, located more than 300 kms Northeast of Leh and bordering Himachal Pradesh, along the Line of Actual Control.

Stressing that Tibetan issue was also India's problem, Dalai Lama said Xi is "more realistic and open minded" and should learn from India when its comes to harmony between people from various regions.

"Actually Tibetan problem is also India's problem. Before 1950, you see that the whole northern border was peaceful. No single soldier. So Tibetan problem is India's problem," he said.

He further added that "sooner or later", one has to solve these problems. "Not by force but by understanding and talks. Understanding comes through talks."

Noting that India and China are the most populated nations, he said difference is that India is the most populated democratic country and very stable.

"You see there is East India, South India, West India, North India, different language, different scripts but very harmonious," Dalai Lama told reporters here.

He said India has more open minded people and an approach which is more realistic.

Xi can indeed learn "some experiences" from India on this front, he said.

"I think the difference in Xi Jinping's thinking is that he is more realistic, more open minded. So he can learn more things from India," the Tibetan spiritual guru said, adding, Sino-India relations should be based on mutual trust which is very essential.