Krishna to hold talks with top Chinese leaders on all bilateral issues

Asia Bulletin (ANI) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will hold bilateral talks with top Chinese leaders and would also inaugurate the new 10-million dollar Indian embassy building.

Setting the tone for talks, Krishna told reporters during a halt in Kunming that all issues concerning bilateral relations would be discussed with China.

He also emphasized that no quick results should be expected with regard to boundary talks.

He also rejected an assessment of US Intelligence Chief James Clappper, in which he said that the Indian Army is strengthening itself for a "limited conflict" with China.

Krishna described India as a peace loving nation and said US intelligence hasn't understood the basic philosophy and ethos of India. "Waging a war is alien to our thinking," he said.

Krishna will meet Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, who ranks ninth and looks after China's national security interests. He visited India in 2010.

He would also hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi and a senior official of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Wang Jiarui. A meeting with State Counsellor Dai Bingguo, who is also the Special Representative on border talks, is also scheduled.

Krishna visited China in 2010 and his visit this year is being viewed as a preparatory for President Hu Jinatao's visit to New Delhi next month to attend a BRICS Summit.

Annual bilateral trade between India and China has touched 74 billion US dollars, largely tilted in favor of China. Recently Indian traders in Yiwu province were allegedly roughed up and detained. They were eventually moved to Shanghai where legal proceedings are going on.

Ties between the two countries have also been affected by India's support of the Dalai Lama's non-political activities.

China regards the Tibetan spiritual leader as renegade and a separatist.

India and China are also likely to sanctions on Iran. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)