India and China are set to host bilateral talks on the sidelines of a summit of the BRICS rising market powers in Johannesburg subsequent week as they proceed to wrangle over a disputed border.

“I am confident that as two nations, two countries, we will have direct talks, direct meetings,” on the Aug. 22-24 summit, Chen Xiaodong, China’s ambassador to South Africa, instructed journalists within the capital, Pretoria, on Friday. “I cannot say there is tension between us, but as neighboring countries we have many common interests at the same time we have some problems.”