PTI

Beijing, Jan 14 (mb) China gave their first "positive" signs on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal on Sunday during informal talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao as the two sides prepared to move forward on a political framework to resolve the boundary issue.

Singh and Wen held a 'restricted meeting' during which the Indo-US nuclear issue came up. The Chinese premier was "very positive", highly placed sources in the meeting said but did not elaborate.
     
Beijing has been non-committal and ambiguous on its position on the nuclear deal. India is looking for support at 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers' Group from China, an influential member, for a waiver for international nuclear commerce.
     
The two prime ministers will discuss the boundary issue on Monday. Special Representatives M K Narayanan and Dai Bingguo, senior Vice Foreign Minister, will meet on Tuesday to take forward the negotiations on the issue.

"The meeting was very excellent. It went off well," the sources said, adding it was "warm and cordial".
     
The developments in Pakistan in the wake of the assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto last month also figured during the talks with both leaders voicing similar concerns, the sources said.
     
Singh, who arrived this morning on a three-day maiden visit, will hold wide ranging discussions with Wen on Monday on entire gamut of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.