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India, China resolve to settle border row New Delhi, May 20 At the delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, China also acceded to New Delhi’s demand that it shared with India information on water level, discharge and rainfall in respect of three hydrological stations on the mainstream Brahmaputra River.
An agreement on hydrological data sharing was among the eight documents signed between the two countries after the ‘candid’ talks between the two leaders at which, according to officials, they were able to establish ‘good’ personal chemistry. The two leaders discussed the entire range of bilateral issues as well as global developments, particularly the evolving situation in Afghanistan. “We also took stock of the lessons learnt from the recent incident in the Western sector (Chinese incursion in Ladakh), when existing mechanisms proved their worth,” Manmohan Singh said, adding that Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries would meet soon to consider further measures needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.The Chinese Premier, on his maiden overseas tour after taking charge of his office in May, also did not try to brush under the carpet the mutual distrust between the two countries because of their long-pending boundary dispute. “We don’t deny there are some differences between us. Both believe that the border question is a left over from the history. We have established principles and mechanisms to maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas,” he said. It is understood that National Security Adviser Shivshanker Menon, who is India’s SR for the boundary talks, would soon visit Beijing to hold the 16th round of talks with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi, the former Foreign Minister, with the mandate to discuss how the 2005 agreement could be improved to ensure that incidents like the Ladakh incursion did not recur. There would also be other proposals on the table when the two SRs meet to deal with border flare-ups. Even as the two PMs met at the majestic Hyderabad House, Tibetans-in-exile held demonstrations in different parts of the capital to protest against the Chinese leader’s visit, leading to traffic jams at many places. A joint statement issued by the two sides said, “The two sides shall work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas in line with the previous agreements.” It noted with satisfaction that the meetings of the India-China working mechanism for consultation and coordination on border affairs had been very fruitful. Significantly, there was no reference to India’s ‘one China policy’ in the joint statement. Briefing reporters, Indian Ambassador China S Jaishankar described the meeting between the two PMs as “significant, substantive and productive.” Noting that the visit of the Chinese Premier had come after an incident which was ‘unusual’ (border incursion), he said the two SRs would also look at the existing mechanisms and if there were any shortcomings which led to the border face off. The Chinese Premier raised the issue of the activities of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in India. He was told by the Indian side that India did not permit the Tibetans to engage in any political activity. In response to a question, Jaishankar said there were a number of high-level exchanges scheduled between the two countries in the coming days. The PM has accepted his Chinese counterpart’s invitation to visit Beijing soon. Defence Minister AK Antony would also be visiting China. Menon to visit Beijing
Joint statement
Trade target pegged at $100 bn by 2015 New Delhi, May 20 “I conveyed to Premier Li (Keqiang) our concerns about the trade deficit and sought increased market access to China for our exports and investments,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a media statement after talks with the visiting Chinese leader. Li is understood to have suggested ways in which the trade imbalance issue can be addressed. On his part, the Chinese leader observed that without the common development of India and China, Asia would not become strong and the world a better place to live. The two sides agreed to cooperate on pharmaceutical supervision, including registration, stronger links between Chinese and Indian IT industries, and completion of negotiations on agro-products. Welcoming Chinese investment in India’s infrastructure development, New Delhi hoped the project contracting cooperation between the businesses of the two countries would be enhanced in the coming days. Li, who is primarily here to explore the vast Indian market for Chinese businesses, will fly to Mumbai tomorrow to meet top business honchos of India. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the India-China CEO’s forum was held here today to coincide with Li’s visit. The two countries reaffirmed the importance they attach to the India-China strategic economic dialogue in promoting macro-economic policy coordination and pragmatic cooperation in various fields.
Eight pacts signed, China to share Brahmaputra data New Delhi, May 20 Under a protocol on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the nations agreed to conduct the pilgrimage every year from May to September. The Chinese side would further improve existing facilities on the route of the pilgrims. To maintain smooth communication, it also agreed to assist in renting out wireless sets and local SIM cards. Under one MoU, China will provide India with information of water level, discharge and rainfall twice a day from June one to October 15 each year in respect of three hydrological stations on the mainstream Brahmaputra river. Another MoU aims at strengthening mutual cooperation in trade and safety of buffalo meat, fishery products and feed and feed ingredients and to meet regulatory requirements with respect to safety and hygiene and quarantine. One agreement is aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of sewage treatment while a fifth one is for enhancing cooperation in the field of water efficient technology with applicability in the area of agriculture and exchange of best practices. The sixth MoU provides for a joint working group that would coordinate translation and publication of 25 books of classic and contemporary works of each side over a period of five years into Chinese and Indian languages. The seventh MoU aims at enhancing cooperation in the field of water efficient technology in the area of agriculture. Sino-India pacts
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