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‘India, China satisfied with trade links’

MANILA: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Wednesday expressed satisfaction that the bilateral trade relations “are moving forward.”

Indicating this, official sources said the two leaders, who met here on the margins of multilateral meetings being organised by the Association of South East Asian Nations, noted that the two countries were on course to achieve the targets set during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s “very successful visit to India” several months ago.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed climate change and energy security issues as well.

Asked whether the latest United States-India civilian nuclear energy pact was discussed, sources said the Chinese side, which “knew about it,” had in fact “noted it.” To a query whether China did so with satisfaction, sources said “there is no question of with satisfaction or without satisfaction.”

Mr. Mukherjee briefed Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso about the latest India-U.S. accord.

They discussed issues of climate change and possible bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Mr. Mukherjee briefly met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to review bilateral ties, and discussed climate change and energy security issues with European Union High Representative Javier Solana.

Later, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba told The Hindu that Tokyo was adopting a “cautious position” in regard to the India-U.S. deal.

The spokesman said: “We will discuss this matter when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits India later this month. But, at the same time, we want to study the text of India-U.S. agreement. We don’t know what kind of agreement [it is].” Noting that India still needed to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and ensure that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would amend their guidelines, he said “only after that process is over, Japan can make a decision on this matter.”

Japan, like China and the U.S., is an important member of the NSG.

Mr. Mukherjee presided over a meeting of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) forum, which consists of India, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The meeting discussed cooperation in the spheres of culture, tourism, transportation and communication among these land-linked countries. A project in focus was the proposed Delhi-Hanoi rail link.

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