New Delhi, Aug 3 - Setting aside speculation about strains in bilateral ties, India has said it is engaged in talks with China to monitor the glaciers in the Himalayas, a strategic border region, and plans to collaborate in climate change negotiations.

'We are talking to the Chinese about monitoring the Himalayan glaciers,' Minister for State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told Britain's Financial Times.

Ramesh's remarks come ahead of the two-day boundary talks between India and China that start Aug 7.

Ramesh, however, clarified that India would not allow Chinese scientists 'to climb all over India's glaciers' but wanted a collaborative research programme on water resources between academic bodies of the two sides.

He underlined that New Delhi is open to dialogue on water resources with Beijing as the two countries had shared concerns.