The two special representatives need to bridge the gap on the interpretation of political parameters and guiding principles finalised during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in 2005.

India accuses China of illegally occupying 43,180 sq km of territory in Jammu and Kashmir, including 5,180 sq km illegally ceded by Islamabad to Beijing in 1963. Beijing accuses New Delhi of occupying some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, most of it in Arunachal Pradesh.

The 13th rounds of talks are taking place against the backdrop of China's renewed assertions over Arunachal Pradesh, India's northeastern state that is claimed in entirety by both countries and recent strains in bilateral ties due to Beijing's perceived hostile posturing on issues affecting Indian interests.

In March this year, China tried to block a development loan for India at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank on grounds that part of it was meant for Arunachal Pradesh. India has also not forgotten Beijing's attempt to block a waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group that cleared global nuclear trade for New Delhi last year.

India and China, that fought a bitter war in 1962 and are now rapidly expanding their economic ties, had adopted the special representatives route in 2003 to resolve the border issue from a political perspective after diplomatic negotiations failed to yield results.