M A I N   N E W S

Chinese Premier to visit in Dec
Ruchika M. Khanna
In Hanoi
Tribune News Service

PM may meet Hillary Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hanoi on Saturday on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.

October 29
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would be visiting India, possibly in the third week of December to resolve outstanding issues that are bedevilling the relationship between the two countries. Announcing this during the meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chinese premier hoped that both sides will be able to “reach a consensus on some major aspects so as to lay a foundation for the visit”.

This announcement by the Chinese premier set the mood for the meeting between the two leaders, especially in the backdrop of the uneasy relationship between the two countries. It also opened the scope for a full-fledged dialogue between the two sides on all core issues. Recognising the importance to cooperate and coexistence so ás to grow together, Wen said to Manmohan Singh, “You have said on many occasions that there is enough space in the world for India and China to achieve common development. On top of your remarks, I add that there is enough space in the world for India and China to cooperate”.

During the meeting, both the prime ministers resolved to achieve a consensus on all core issues, including the boundary dispute, China’s shift in the Kashmir policy (issuing of stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir and its engagement in PoK), before Wen visits India later this year.

The leaders instructed their Special Representatives and other senior officials to prepare for Wen’s visit and work for solution to these issues. The Special Representatives from both sides are expected to meet in Beijing by November end in preparation for the Wen’s visit. In addition, Zhou Yong Kang, a member of the standing committee of the Politburo in China, is also expected to come to India next week and call on Manmohan Singh to discuss these ‘core issues’.

National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon said that during the bilateral talks between the two countries, that lasted for 45 minutes here this morning, the two leaders discussed a range of international issues where both countries have similar views.

“Both sides recalled their work together on the issue of climate change in Copenhagen in 2009, besides issues like counter terrorism, disaster management, energy cooperation and food security,” he said, adding that the meeting between the two leaders was warm, fruitful and covered the entire gamut of relations between the two countries.

“Both the leaders took a broader view of the strategic relationship by discussing the specifics in this relationship. They spoke of sensitivities to each others’ core issues, and determination to carry the relationship forward. While discussing the boundary dispute between the two countries, both sides said that they look forward on early resolution of the issue. They agreed that there is need to carry forward the process on the parameters of the agreement signed in 2005, as the guiding principle on resolving the issue,” he said, adding that the frequent number of visits between the political leadership on both sides during this 60th year of our diplomatic relationship with China, has helped in cementing the strategic relations.

Menon also said that the two sides also held discussions on trade relations between the two countries. “The Chinese premier said that he was conscious of the imbalance in trade between the two countries and the progress being made after the Joint Economic Group meeting of India and China.