Nirupama Rao, Ambassador to China: Let me just give you an overview oftoday’s discussions. I will briefly dwell on the topics discussed and then wecould take a few questions.
The discussions between our External Affairs Minister and the Chinese ForeignMinister earlier today were extensive and wide ranging covering bilateral,regional and global issues. Let me share with you some highlights of theirdiscussions:
The two Ministers made a positive assessment of the present status of bilateralrelations and noted with satisfaction that the strategic and cooperativepartnership, established during the visit of the Chinese Premier to India in2005, was developing smoothly. In this context, they shared the view that thelandmark visit of President Hu Jintao to India last November and the ten-prongedstrategy agreed upon during the visit to further substantiate the India-ChinaStrategic Partnership, had raised relations to a new level. Both sides expressedtheir determination to go ahead and strengthen friendship in all areas, increasemutual political trust and further develop their strategic partnership.
On the subject of high level visits, Foreign Minister Li renewed the invitationextended by the Chinese leadership to our Prime Minister to visit China duringthis year. Our External Affairs Minister responded to state that our PrimeMinister looks forward to visiting China. Both sides will make earnestpreparations for the visit.
On the subject of the boundary question, the two Ministers noted withsatisfaction the progress made in the dialogue between the two SpecialRepresentatives on the boundary question. They reiterated the decision taken bythe leaders of the two countries that the Special Representatives should furtherintensify their efforts in order to reach a political settlement of the boundaryquestion on the basis of the political parameters and the guiding principlesagreed upon in April 2005.
The two Ministers also expressed satisfaction over the growth in bilateral tradevolume which as you may be aware touched US $ 25 billion in 2006 and they hopedit would surpass the target of US $ 40 billion by 2010. As you know this targetwas set during the visit of the Chinese President to India last November. Theycalled upon the Joint Task Force of the officials of the two countries to workactively and complete the feasibility study on Regional Trading Arrangementsbefore the end of October this year.
The two countries have a system of dialogue mechanisms and on this subject itwas agreed that the Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of ExternalAffairs of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, signed during theChinese President’s visit last November will be able to institutionalize thedialogue mechanisms between the two Foreign Offices. The two Ministers agreedthat meetings of these dialogue mechanisms, including Strategic Dialogue, JointWorking Group, Policy Planning Dialogue, Security Dialogue, Dialogue on CounterTerrorism and Foreign Office Consultations, will take place during this year.The calendar of meetings is presently being firmed up.
The subject of the hotline will, of course, interest all of you. You may recallthat during the Chinese President’s visit, it was agreed to set up a hotlinebetween the two Foreign Ministers. The modalities in this regard have beenworked out and the hotline is now in place.
You will also recall that during the Chinese President’s visit, it was agreedto establish new Consulates General at Guangzhou and Kolkata in order to furtherstrengthen institutional links. The two Ministers have agreed and directed thatthe new Consulates be set up within the year 2007.
India and China are celebrating and commemorating a Friendship Year throughTourism, this particular calendar year - 2007. And the two Ministers expressedthe hope that cooperation in tourism and people-to-people exchanges would beintensified during the India-China Friendship Through Tourism Year 2007. Bothsides will work to ensure the setting up of their respective tourism offices ineach other’s countries during 2007. As you also may be aware, that theFriendship Year will officially be launched tomorrow in the presence of theChinese Foreign Minister, our External Affairs Minister and our Minister forTourism and Culture.
The liberalisation of Visa Procedures was another subject that was touched uponand there will be talks at an early date between the concerned officials of thetwo sides to further liberalise visa procedures to facilitate travel fortourism, business and other purposes.
People-to-people relationships is the other issue of focus and in order tofurther reinforce these contacts, a 100 member strong Indian youth delegation,which will be headed by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, will visit Chinain June this year, and while we receive a 100-strong Chinese youth delegation,also headed at the Ministerial-level in October.
There was also discussion on the operationalisation of the expert-levelmechanism to discuss cooperation in issues pertaining to trans-border rivers.The Indian side has already conveyed to the Chinese side the constitution of itsexpert team. Foreign Minister Li said that the Chinese side was also ready toestablish its expert group so that cooperation in this field can be expanded.
Foreign Minister Li also conveyed to us that in order to provide greaterfacilitation for Indian pilgrims traveling to Kailash and Mansarovar, theChinese side was stepping up its efforts to improve transport and medicalfacilities for Indian visitors. External Affairs Minister expressed hisappreciation of these initiatives and also reiterated our request that anadditional pilgrim route be opened up through Demchok.
As part of the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) initiative, a car rally isplanned from Kunming to Kolkata and the two Ministers noted with satisfactionthat this car rally will be held in the last quarter of 2007. It will take placefrom Kunming to Kolkata as I mentioned, via Myanmar and Bangladesh.
It is important to note that Foreign Minister Li announced his Government’ssupport for India’s bid to host the 2014 Asian Games and he also expressedChina’s willingness to exchange experiences with India on the holding of largesporting events. He thanked External Affairs Minister for India’s support forChina’s hosting of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
On regional and international Issues, Foreign Minister Li expressed China’sreadiness to enhance communication and coordination with India on UN relatedissues - the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), the East Asia Summit, theAsia-Europe Meeting, Asian Cooperation Dialogue, SAARC and other regional andinternational organizations related issues. He said that China will send ahigh-level delegation to participate in the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi inApril this year as an observer.
Both Ministers also had a detailed exchange of views on the Six Party Talks ondenuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Iran, the Middle East Peace Processand Afghanistan. There was a convergence of views on issues discussed and it wasagreed that the two sides will maintain close consultations on the developingsituation.