Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006
International - India & World
India, China complete second round of strategic dialogue
P. S. Suryanarayana
Saran says the Chinese did not express unhappiness over the Washington-New Delhi nuclear accord -------------------------------------------------------------------------- a.. Boundary issue discussed in a "proactive manner" a.. Solution could be explored on the basis of the India-China strategic partnership -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SINGAPORE: India and China completed the second round of their strategic dialogue in Beijing on Tuesday on a note of "satisfaction at the positive trends" that emerged on the bilateral front "in the recent past."
The two sides explored the "content" of their evolving strategic partnership. Significantly, in this diplomatic ambience, India "asked [for] cooperation from China," a key member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), in the context of Washington's latest agreement with New Delhi on "civilian nuclear energy" issues.
Indicating, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who led the Indian delegation, said at a media briefing in Beijing that his Chinese interlocutors did not convey to him any unhappiness over the Washington-New Delhi accord.
The Chinese team was led by Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei. And, on the sidelines of the dialogue sessions, Mr. Saran called on the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo who is also his country's Special Representative for discussions with India on the boundary question.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan later told a press conference that the two sides had agreed to hold the next round of talks at the level of Special Representatives, the seventh in the series, in India in late-February.
While the agenda for the meeting would be fixed through diplomatic channels, the two sides had now reached an "important consensus" to proceed from "the overall situation of developing friendly relations" and to make "positive efforts to promote the process of border-issue talks," Mr. Kong said.
Mr. Saran, in his separate media interaction, emphasised that the two delegations discussed how to address the boundary question, among various "outstanding issues," in a "proactive manner," in the larger context of the "strategic and cooperative relationship that we have established."
Noting that the "political parameters" for a boundary settlement, already agreed to by India and China, were "practical principles," he said, "the idea is to go beyond claims and counter-claims." A mutually acceptable solution could be explored on the basis of the India-China strategic partnership and the "global dimension" of their evolving relations.
Answering questions about the talks on nuclear issue, Mr. Saran said there was no discussion on such specifics as China's views regarding the NSG's policy towards India. However, he pointed out, the Chinese side was told that one aspect of New Delhi's discussions with Washington was "the modification in the guidelines of the NSG which would enable full civilian nuclear cooperation with India."
On the nuances of India's move to seek China's help in this complex situation, Mr. Saran said the NSG members would have their say. "But, this is, of course, a matter on which the lead will have to be taken by the U.S." Suitable modification of the domestic law in the U.S. as regards India was also an issue in their relevant bilateral dialogue, China was informed.
On a different plane, he did not ask the Chinese side about its reported supply of nuclear reactors to Pakistan at this stage. "As far as I know, this [report] has not been confirmed," he pointed out.
The other key aspects of the strategic dialogue covered "a certain convergence of views" on the current international situation, the importance of global responses to global challenges, United Nations reform including that of the Security Council, the creation of an East Asia Community, and trilateral cooperation involving not only India and China but also Russia.
The Foreign Secretary said his meeting with Mr. Li was particularly focussed on the U.N. reforms. Briefing the Chinese leader on the latest developments concerning Group of Four - India, Japan, Brazil and Germany - Mr. Saran said Tokyo had now chosen not to associate itself with the other three in tabling a resolution.
However, Japan had expressed its continuing solidarity with them and they would remain in "close consultations with important partners" including China.
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