Beijing, April 7
India and China today signed an agreement to establish a hotline between Prime Ministers of the two countries, as External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi resolved to take the bilateral relationship to new heights.

The agreement, under which dedicated phone lines will be set up in the Prime Minister's office of the two countries, was signed by Krishna and Yang after their talks here. This would enable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao to hold direct conversations whenever they want.

This is the first time in recent years that India has established a dedicated hotline facility with any country. During the over an hour-long meeting, the two countries also decided to strengthen their cooperation in regional forums and on addressing issues like global financial crisis and climate change.

After the meeting, Krishna said the establishment of hotline facility showed how close "India and China were with each other". "This has been one of the highlights of my visit and it is fitting that the two countries were able to do it during the celebrations of 60th year of establishment of diplomatic relations," he said.

The decision to establish the hotline was reached during a meeting between Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in June last.

Asked whether the issue of stapled visas was taken up during the meeting with Yang, Krishna said: “All issues concerning bilateral ties were discussed.” He is understood to have conveyed India's concerns over Kashmiris being issued stapled visas by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi.

The issue of 21 Indians being held in China on charges of diamond smuggling is also understood to have been raised. Earlier, Krishna met the families of the 21 Indians and assured them that he would raise the issue during his meetings with the top Chinese leadership. While 20 Indians have been charged with diamond smuggling, one has been charged with money laundering.

However, Yang refused to go into the details of his talks with Krishna when asked whether the issue of stapled visas was discussed. “I am not going into the details,” he said, adding both the countries should focus on common interests. “I am sure that this relationship will go forward.” — PTI