NEW DELHI : The Government on Tuesday said the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao "represented an important step forward in the process of developing a cooperative framework of engagement with China, notwithstanding outstanding issues" and highlighted the commitment of the two sides to add greater content to the strategic partnership.

Making a suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament on "Chinese President's Visit to India," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the two countries also committed themselves to developing an action-oriented template for the future development and diversification of relations.

"It also offered an opportunity to send out a strong signal to the international community that as good neighbours and partners, there was enough space for India and China to develop together in a mutually supportive manner while remaining sensitive to each other's concerns and aspirations," he said.

Positive trends

He said "encouraged by the positive trends in India-China relations," India was hopeful that the continued engagement with China at the highest level would give further impetus to bilateral relations and speed up the process of resolution of outstanding differences.

Referring to the controversy kicked up by the Chinese envoy's statement on the status of Arunachal Pradesh on the eve of the visit, the Minister reiterated his earlier assurance to Parliament on the issue. Asserting that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India, he said India had taken up the matter immediately with the Chinese Government and "our disappointment and concern over the Chinese statement [was] clearly conveyed."

Both sides acknowledged that early resolution of the boundary question would not only advance the basic interests of the two countries but also invest the strategic partnership with further strength and dynamism. Mr. Mukherjee said; adding that it would be pursued as a strategic objective. Also, the two sides were committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas pending final settlement of the boundary question. Besides, work on clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control would be expedited.

The Minister also tabled the Joint Declaration and synopsis of the 13 agreements signed during the visit.

Institutional linkages

Mr. Mukherjee made references to some of the initiatives announced during the visit to consolidate institutional linkages between the two governments, encourage comprehensive economic engagement, promote trans-border connectivity and cooperation, and enhance science and technology, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

In particular, he referred to the agreements to hold regular summit level meetings, open new consulates in Kolkata and Guangzhou, and set up an expert-level mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on the provision of flood season hydrological data, emergency management and other issues relating to trans-border rivers.

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