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Hu's visit a chance to "enhance political trust"

Pallavi Aiyar

"Active progress" in solving boundary dispute, says Beijing

Hu Jintao

Beijing: Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India from November 20-23 will be an opportunity to "enhance political trust" and to "show the world that the common development of both countries is not only important bilaterally but also significant for world peace, development and prosperity," said Cui Tiankui, China's Assistant Foreign Minister, at a press briefing here on Tuesday.

He said Mr. Hu's visit was particularly momentous in that it was the first such trip to India by a Chinese President in a decade. Mr. Cui added that Beijing hoped the visit would serve to take forward the strategic and cooperative partnership established following Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi in April 2005.

He said "active progress" was taking place in solving the boundary dispute and that following the announcement of the political parameters and guiding principles for resolution of the border issue, "exploration has started on the details of a framework agreement."

To meet Manmohan, Kalam

He revealed that the Chinese President would visit New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai during his three-day trip and would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Abdul Kalam as well as have "wide contact with political parties."

Mr. Hu will give "an important speech in New Delhi where he will elaborate on China's policy towards India." In Mumbai, he will address a China-India economic forum, before flying on to Pakistan.

Mr. Cui said agreements in areas such as energy, agriculture, education and science and technology would be signed during Mr. Hu's visit.

Nuclear deal

Asked whether the President would discuss China's position on the India-U.S. civilian nuclear energy deal, the Assistant Foreign Minister merely reiterated China's position that "cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy is acceptable as long as it complies with the non-proliferation regime." In the past China has called on India to sign the NPT.

Mr. Cui also said that he hoped a free trade agreement with India could be achieved at an "early date" since this would "help both countries." China had "noted reports" on India's recent moves toward restricting Chinese investments in certain key sectors on security grounds, he said but declined to elaborate.

In regard to Mr. Hu's onward visit to Pakistan from the November 23-26, Mr. Cui stressed the "all-weather relationship" that Pakistan and China shared. He said friendship between the two countries was "strongly rooted in the hearts of both peoples."

It is widely expected that an agreement on energy cooperation, including nuclear energy assistance, will be signed during Mr. Hu's visit to Islamabad. Mr. Cui said he believed there was considerable scope for cooperation in many sectors, including energy.

Prior to his South Asia trip, the Chinese President will be visiting Laos and Vietnam.

Increase in trade

Diplomatic Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

Since the resumption of the high-level political dialogue through the visit of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to China in December 1988, India and China have made every effort to keep their relationship on an even keel while continuing to address the boundary dispute.

Trade between the two countries has shown a massive increase — with the current figure touching $ 18 billion. Earlier this year, in a major confidence-boosting measure, the two countries opened border trade through the Nathu La pass.

According to official sources, no address by President Hu to a joint session of Parliament is scheduled. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will call on Mr. Hu, who will also have a meeting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The sources said that India and China had been working on a fresh agreement to make incremental advances on the boundary question, but were not quite sure whether this would be announced during the visit of President Hu since a scheduled November 9 session for talks between the Special Representatives on the border question has been put off.

China has said that Special Representative Dai Bingguo will not be able to make it to New Delhi on November 9 as he is busy with the North Korean nuclear issue. However, it is possible that Mr. Dai may travel to India with President Hu in which case he may hold talks with Indian Special Representative M.K. Narayanan.

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