The Hindu : China upbeat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

China upbeat

By P.S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE June 12. China today sounded a highly positive note while announcing the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao.

Mr. Vajpayee was invited by the previous Prime Minister, Zhu Rongji. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Kong Quan, at a press conference in Beijing today said the anticipated talks between Mr. Vajpayee and the Chinese leaders would boost bilateral relations.

Mr. Kong indicated that Mr. Vajpayee's recent meeting with the Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao, in St. Petersburg had set the stage for the coming meeting.

Describing the St. Petersburg meeting between the two as "a very successful meeting'', Mr. Kong said, "they have pledged concerted efforts to promote the advancement of bilateral ties."

He noted that Mr. Vajpayee, too, spoke about undertaking a very important and fruitful visit to China.

Though the spokesman did not present a preview of the sheaf of bilateral agreements that may be signed on the occasion, Chinese diplomats and analysts expect Mr. Vajpayee's visit to be quite crucial for bilateral ties, regardless of whether it would in the end rank alongside the historic visit by Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 and P.V. Narasimha Rao's purposeful visit in 1993.

China felt "encouraged'' by the upward trajectory in the Sino-Indian interactions in recent years, the spokesman emphasised.

It was against this background that the two sides would now exchange views on regional and international issues so as to "reaffirm their respective stances on safeguarding regional peace, stability and development."

Mr. Kong said Beijing was glad that the relations between India and Pakistan had "gained momentum'' in recent times. China's "sincere hope'' was that "India and Pakistan will further improve their ties and ... . work for peace and development in the region."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

India, U.S. must fight jehadi terrorism together: Advani

Uncalled for, says Islamabad

PM's China visit from June 22

China upbeat

Kanchi Acharya's claim questioned

BJP undecided on making Ayodhya a poll issue

Yaseen Malik arrested

3 Governors take oath

Maruti opens public offer

Curfew in Poonch

Bodies retrieved

Gregory Peck is dead