The Hindu : National : China has appreciated India’s role: Pranab

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China has appreciated India’s role: Pranab

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: China had called Indian ambassador to Beijing Nirupama Rao to express “appreciation” over the “prompt action” in apprehending some Tibetan refugees who had forcibly entered the Chinese embassy here on March 21, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question on Thursday.

Seeking to set the record straight in the wake of media reports suggesting that the Chinese Foreign Ministry had abruptly summoned Ms. Rao at 2 a.m., Mr. Mukherjee said on the contrary the Chinese “sought a meeting” with her.

Media reports had added that the Chinese Foreign Ministry had expressed displeasure and concern over the storming of the Chinese embassy. But Mr. Mukherjee said the Chinese had requested India to continue taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic and consular establishments as well as their citizens. “Our ambassador said all necessary steps are being taken in this regard,” said the Minister.

Last week, a senior Ministry of External Affairs official had spoken on similar lines. He had said that after receiving the report from its New Delhi mission, the Chinese Foreign Office called up Ms. Rao at 9 p.m. for consultations. As she was busy with other engagements, Ms. Rao drove down to the Foreign Office after 11 p.m. The Nepalese envoy was also called for a meeting the same night because India and Nepal have the highest number of Tibetan refugees.

Government ‘distressed’

In reply to another question, Mr. Mukherjee said the Government was “distressed” by reports of the unsettled situation and violence in Lhasa and by the deaths of innocent people.

India hoped that all those involved would work to improve the situation and remove the causes of such trouble in Tibet through dialogue and non-violent means.

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