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Friday, Jan 07, 2005

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International - India & World

Natwar holds talks with Wen Jiabao

By P.S. Suryanarayana

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao with Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh at a private meeting during the tsunami summit in Jakarta on Thursday. Donors and world leaders met to discuss the Asian tsunami crisis. — AP

JAKARTA, JAN. 6. India and China today agreed to sustain the "positive momentum" in their bilateral engagement.

The External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, who met the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, on the sidelines of the extraordinary tsunami summit in Jakarta, later described their talks as a "very good" exercise in positive diplomacy.

Echoing the sentiment, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, who was present during the meeting, told The Hindu that "Premier Wen Jiabao and the Foreign Minister [Mr. Singh] have had a very good discussion". Laying emphasis on this aspect, Mr. Li said: "Both sides believe that we are working together to consolidate and enhance the friendship and cooperation further between the two nations and people".

Summing up the discussions, Mr. Singh said the Chinese Prime Minister was "deeply appreciative of what India is doing" to help itself and its tsunami-hit neighbours in the present crisis. While China was aware of India's own efforts, Mr. Wen indicated his country's willingness to be of help. Deeply appreciating China's friendly sentiment, Mr. Singh told him that India was "coping" with the tsunami impact as "we have extensive experience in dealing with natural disasters".

On the "brief review of the satisfactory and comprehensive development of bilateral relations," the External Affairs Minister said Mr. Wen identified trade and economic engagement, science and technology, culture and education as areas of cooperation.

Asked whether the question of India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council with the veto right was discussed, Mr. Singh said the issue did not figure at this time.

Noting, however, that the China-India relationship had now "entered a new phase", Indian officials said "both sides agreed that it was necessary to look for ways and means to maintain the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship from a long-term strategic perspective as well as to resolve the border issue". During the talks, Mr. Wen emphasised, too, that he was "greatly looking forward" to his visit to India later this year. Mr. Wen said his visit would be "an important event that would further consolidate India-China relations and friendship".

Discussion with Annan

The question of India's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council figured prominently in Mr. Singh's meeting with the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on the margins of the tsunami summit. In a briefing on the talks, Mr. Singh said he told Mr. Annan that the U.N. High Level Panel had really "skirted the main issue of veto" in regard to the Security Council reform. The External Affairs Minister said he told Mr. Annan that there was no question of India not having the veto right as a possible new permanent member. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had already backed India's credentials for permanent membership with the veto right, Mr. Annan was told.

Mr. Singh said he told the Secretary General that the High Level Panel chief had made a reference to Kashmir as an area of unrest. This was "completely uncalled for" and it was also "not the mandate" of the Panel to raise such issues.

On Iraq, while Mr. Annan hoped that elections could be held there as scheduled now, Mr. Singh made it abundantly clear that the question of India sending troops "does not arise."

Mr. Singh emphasised the centrality of the U.N. in the international efforts to meet the current tsunami challenge.

Talks with Powell

Mr. Singh held talks with a number of other leaders, including the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who expressed appreciation for the manner in which India had responded to the tsunami challenge at home and in the neighbourhood. The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, and the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, were among the others whom Mr. Singh met.

Following his talks with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Nobuaka Machimura, a spokesman, Hatsuhisa Takashima, told The Hindu that Japan, while being appreciative of India's efforts to help its neighbours overcome the tsunami disaster, outlined Tokyo's willingness to extend aid to the crisis-hit countries.

Mr. Takashima said the Japan-India efforts to coordinate strategies for becoming permanent members of the Security Council came up briefly for discussion.

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Natwar holds talks with Wen Jiabao