Ahead of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit, China on Tuesday said the two countries do not see each other as a threat and sought a "fair, reasonable and acceptable" solution to the boundary issue.

Describing as "important" Mukherjee's four-day visit to China beginning, Beijing [Images] said both sides attach great importance to it and they would exchange views on a "series of issues," including the boundary row on which it said discussions had made "some progress" in recent years.

"The two sides have reached a consensus which is that both are important neighbours and partners to each other. The two countries will not regard each other as a threat,"

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular bi-weekly media briefing.

Mukherjee's visit to China is the first by an External Affairs Minister since 2002 when Jaswant Singh was in the country and also a maiden one for him ever since he assumed

office in his present role. He will arrive tomorrow at Guanzhou where he will inaugurate the Consulate General of India on June five before reaching Beijing the same day.

Embarking on the visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, Mukherjee would also hold talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders.

"The two sides attach great importance to his visit. We will exchange views on bilateral relations as well as other issues of mutual interest," Qin said. Both sides would discuss a "series of issues concerning bilateral relations," he said and added "I think the boundary is included."