Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has politely rejected China’s objection to Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh in November while making it clear that the Tibetan spiritual leader was not allowed to indulge in political activities on the Indian soil.

The issue figured last night when the PM and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao were seated next to each other at a gala dinner hosted by the Thailand Prime Minister for leaders attending the ASEAN and East Asia summits.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Manmohan Singh said he had held frank and constructive talks with the Chinese premier, both at the formal meeting in the afternoon and at the dinner last night.

“The premier and I reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility on the border pending the resolution of the boundary question. Both of us agreed that we should continue and strengthen efforts to build political trust and understanding,” he added.

It is, however, quite clear that Beijing would spare no opportunity to air its opposition to the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit on November 8 to Arunachal, most of which China claims belongs to it. A news report has suggested that China even issued a demarche to India on Friday night on the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit though no official was ready to confirm it.

“I explained to Premier Wen that the Dalai Lama is an honoured guest. “He is a religious leader. We don’t allow him to engage in political activities,” the PM said. To a question, he said he was not aware of the Dalai Lama’s programme.

He also recalled how the Tibetan refugees were prevented by the Indian authorities from disrupting the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi last year on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.

Manmohan Singh said all issues between the two countries would be discussed threadbare when External Affairs Minister SM Krishna meets his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on the fringes of the Russia-India-China foreign ministers’ meeting in Bangalore on October 27.

Acknowledging that the “complex” boundary issue between India and China could not be wished away, Manmohan Singh said there were established government channels to exchange views on these issues. There was no need to go to the media to accentuate or exaggerate the amount of differences. “We both agreed that the boundary question is a complex question and that pending the resolution of the boundary question, we both have an obligation to maintain peace and tranquility along the border.”

Asked if he had also taken up with the Chinese leader the issue of China issuing visas to Indian nationals from Jammu and Kashmir on separate sheets instead of stamping on their passports, the PM said he did not specifically raise this issue. “As far as we are concerned, Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are integral parts of India.”

On reports that China reportedly was constructing a dam over Brahmaputra, he said he did raise the issue in the context of trans- border river systems. He said he had conveyed to the Chinese leader that cooperation in the area of trans-border rivers was of mutual benefit. Premier Wen told him that keeping in mind the humanitarian aspects, the Chinese side had been providing hydrological data to India during the flood season. Relevant discussions could be held between the two sides through the expert level mechanism between the two countries.