Need to resolve border dispute quickly: Modi

• 'Tibet’s problem is India's problem,' says Dalai Lama
• India set to hold talks on Civil Nuclear Cooperation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping a series of incursions at the border and bluntly stressed on the need to resolve the dispute quickly and clarify the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"Respect for each other's sensitivities and concerns and, peace and stability in our relations and along our borders are essential," PM Modi said, speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Xi at Delhi's Hyderabad House.

"The incidents that took place at the border, I expressed my concern. Our border Confidence Building Measures have helped but I have also suggested that for peace and stability, we need to clarify LAC," he asserted.

The two leaders met amid an unprecedented face-off at the border after 1,000 Chinese soldiers crossed into Indian territory in Ladakh's Chumar in the worst such transgression in years.

The Chinese troops have been halted and pushed back slightly, officials say, and there is "no need to panic". The Chinese President blamed the incursions on the "non-demarcation" of the border.

"Due to non-demarcation of the border, certain incidents take place but both countries have mechanisms to handle such incidents," President Xi said, adding, "Both sides are capable of effectively managing the border situation and settle the disputes at the earliest. We have the sincerity to work with India to ensure peace and tranquility at the border."

India has posted 1,500 soldiers at Chumur after armed Chinese troops crossed about five km into Indian territory yesterday.

Chinese soldiers first entered almost a week ago at the area at the intersection of the international border and the LAC, the de facto border between the two countries. They allegedly brought in in heavy construction equipment and a large labour force to set up a road up to the border. Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said that "Tibet's problem is India's problem", adding that the long-standing issue need to be resolved but not by force. Dalai Lama also said good Sino-Indian relations based on mutual trust will benefit not just Asia but the whole world.

"Sino-Indian relations (build) on the basis of mutual trust are very important. Not only the whole of Asia, but the entire world can benefit from their (good) relations. Harmony can be brought by trust and not fear.

"I have faith in the new leadership. He (Xi) is open-minded and his way of working is quite realistic," the 79-year-old Buddhist monk said while addressing a gathering here to mark the 108th Foundation Day of Indian Merchants' Chamber and its ladies' wing. India will open talks on civil nuclear energy cooperation with China. The announcement, part of the new government's push to broaden its nuclear energy sector, comes on the heels of a deal India struck this month to buy uranium from Australia to increase its fuel supplies.