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India and China have formed the 'Eminent Persons Group' as an important alternate channel to promote bilateral ties, Chinese foreign ministry sources said on Monday.
According to the sources, former vice foreign minister Liu Shuqing would head the EPG from the Chinese side. Former minister R L Bhatia is expected to head the India EPG.
The decision to form the China-India EPG was taken by President K R Narayanan and Chinese President Jiang Zemin during Narayanan's visit to China last year.
"The Chinese side considers the 'Eminent Persons Group' as an important channel for promoting bilateral ties," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.
"The EPG will be beneficial to the strengthening of mutual understanding and trust between the two nations," Zhang added.
She said the first plenary session of the EPG would be held in New Delhi.
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