External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Tueday said that China should be guided by India's official stand on issues concerning bilateral ties and not by the reports in the Indian media, an "independent entity" which takes a critical stance on various issues.

"We have an independent media which is very articulate, which is sometimes extremely critical not (only) on India-China relations, but also on various internal and external factors," he said when a Chinese journalist asked him about "adverse" reports in the Indian media last year.

The journalist was apparently referring to reports in the Indian media about repeated incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory and Chinese objection to the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

"...But we take it in our own stride," he said.

China should be guided by the pronouncement being made in the Indian parliament spelling out the official stand which dictates the "pace of the India-China relationship", Krishna said.

He was speaking to the media here after addressing the China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank.

Krishna will tomorrow formally kick-off celebrations to mark the establishment of 60th year of diplomatic relations between India and China. Noted Indian theatre artist Ratan Thiyam would present a show on Emperor Ashoka.

He said Indian cultural events would be held this year in 33 towns and cities in China to mark the celebrations.

"Cultural exchanges will go a long way in strengthening relationships. India and china are bound culturally much more than anything else," he said.

"I feel that culture is most the powerful weapon" which could be used to improve the ties between the two countries.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attached great importance to the "cultural diplomacy".

"There should more opportunities for students and fold artists to visit each other countries. Like China, India also has a number of scenic spots," he said and invited Chinese to visit India.

Krishna said for both India and China stability at home stands in sharp contrast to extreme instability in "our shared neighbourhood" and they cannot afford to remain "passive spectators".

Without directly referring to Pakistan, Krishna said: "As pluralistic societies, we are threatened by political ideologies that are based on narrow loyalties, often justified by distorting religious beliefs".

Krishna said states that use narrow ideologies "as instruments to advance their political interests find themselves consumed by these very destructive ideas... It is critical for our future that we cooperate actively in meeting common challenges".

He said Sino-India ties were never a zero sum game and it was all the more important now to take an "enlightened and long term view of our self-interests".

Contending that as developing countries, China and India found their interests converging on several global issues and in creating a more contemporary order, he said: "the two countries can advance their respective interests much better through active cooperation".

On the boundary issue, he said the special representatives of the two countries have had 13 meetings so far since the mechanism was established in 2003.

"It is going to be a time consuming affair and one has to be patient to deal with it. The special representatives are aware of their responsibilities and we hope a mutually acceptable solution can be arrived at," he said.

"Even on an issue like the unresolved boundary question that is often the subject of media speculation, it is always not appreciated that considerable progress has actually been made," he said.

The issue of special visas on a separate piece of paper to residents of Jammu and Kashmir and of projects undertaken by China in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), would figure in talks with Chinese leaders, he said replying to a question.

He also said the Indian military was not competing with China in modernising its armed forces, and the Indian army just has the "right size" to defend the territory.

"We do not believe in competition with any other country so far our armed forces are concerned... That is what we need and will pursue that," he said replying to a question.

Krishna, who kick started his four-day visit to China today, sought China's backing for a permanent UNSC seat for India, calling on Beijing to "review" its policies on UN reform to "welcome" its neighbour to the core group of the world body.

Ahead of his talks with the Chinese leadership, Krishna also sought China's support for the convention against terrorism proposed by India at the UN, and said all nations should join hands to thwart the evil designs of terrorists.