ID :
131094
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 08:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/131094
The shortlink copeid
Menon to take up Sino-Pak N-deal, bilateral issues with China
K J M Varma
Beijing, July 2 (PTI) India's concerns over China's
plans to build two nuclear reactors for Pakistan and bilateral
issues are set to figure prominently during talks between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy Shiv Shankar
Menon and the Chinese leadership here from Saturday.
Menon, the National Security Advisor is expected to
meet a number of top Chinese officials in the next three days,
specially the influential Chinese State Councillor Dai
Bingguo, who is his designated counterpart to discuss
Sino-Indian border dispute.
As special envoy of Prime Minister, Menon carries a
wide mandate to discuss a whole range of thorny issues,
results of which observers here expect would set tone and
direction to the future Sino-India ties.
"I expect the visit to consolidate the gains made
during the visit of President Pratibha Patil. Menon's visit
could set a new direction and purpose to bilateral ties," Ma
Jiali, senior scholar attached to Chinese Government run
Institute of Contemporary International Relations told PTI
on the eve of Menon's visit.
The bilateral ties showed an upswing since early
this year coming from the shadows of spat and suspicion over
number of issues last year as the two emerging Asian giants,
seizing the opportunity of 60th year of establishment of
diplomatic relations gave a new found direction.
The efforts to give a new fillip to ties culminated
with the May visit of Indian President during which, according
to the top Indian diplomats here the Chinese leadership went
out of the way to convey a very strong message of establishing
a close and vibrant strategic ties focussing more on trade and
international cooperation on issues like climate change.
But once again the Pakistan factor has cast a shadow
on the new found optimism as China pressed ahead with its
plans to build two 650 mw nuclear reactors to Pakistan
disregarding concerns from India and the US.
China has already informed the 46-member Nuclear
Suppliers Group, (NSG) about its plans. Menon's visit being
worked out at India's initiative comes just three days ahead
of the arrival of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari here,
which showed the urgency India attached to this issue.
China has not spoken openly about the reactors and the
issues relating to them were expected to be firmed up during
Zardari's visit from July 6-11.
"India should not pay attention to the Chinese plans
to build civilian nuclear reactors to Pakistan. It is under
the supervision and guidelines of International Atomic Energy
Agency, (IAEA). This should not worry India," Ma said.
He said China has already effected a major change to
its South Asia policy. It is not the same as it was in 1980 he
said, apparently referring to open pro-Pakistan policy
followed by Beijing to check India’s reach and influence.
"China has now separated relations with India and
Pakistan and wants good relations with both of them," Ma said.
"Our present policy towards India is different from
the past and we look for a vibrant bilateral relationship with
India. China take India as a strategic ally and friend," Ma
who had visited India several times said.
He said, Menon being a former envoy to Beijing and
with vast contacts with Chinese officials perhaps remove the
misconceptions.
"He speaks Chinese well. That is added advantage," Ma
said, adding that the two countries could step up cooperation
in climate energy, handing of the international financial
crisis and regional security.
For its part China too was expected to convey its
concerns over to Menon over recent Indian curbs over Chinese
telecom equipment.
Some of the companies like Huawei offered to shift
manufacturing to India to ally India's security fears. Menon's
visit may end the stalemate.
On the trade front his talks with the Chinese
officials was expected to include a review of China's
initiatives to open its domestic markets for China to bridge
to trade deficit, which touched USD 16 billion last year.
With bilateral trade expected to touch a new high of
USD 60 billion this year, India is keen to bridge trade
deficit. PTI KJV
KAB
Beijing, July 2 (PTI) India's concerns over China's
plans to build two nuclear reactors for Pakistan and bilateral
issues are set to figure prominently during talks between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy Shiv Shankar
Menon and the Chinese leadership here from Saturday.
Menon, the National Security Advisor is expected to
meet a number of top Chinese officials in the next three days,
specially the influential Chinese State Councillor Dai
Bingguo, who is his designated counterpart to discuss
Sino-Indian border dispute.
As special envoy of Prime Minister, Menon carries a
wide mandate to discuss a whole range of thorny issues,
results of which observers here expect would set tone and
direction to the future Sino-India ties.
"I expect the visit to consolidate the gains made
during the visit of President Pratibha Patil. Menon's visit
could set a new direction and purpose to bilateral ties," Ma
Jiali, senior scholar attached to Chinese Government run
Institute of Contemporary International Relations told PTI
on the eve of Menon's visit.
The bilateral ties showed an upswing since early
this year coming from the shadows of spat and suspicion over
number of issues last year as the two emerging Asian giants,
seizing the opportunity of 60th year of establishment of
diplomatic relations gave a new found direction.
The efforts to give a new fillip to ties culminated
with the May visit of Indian President during which, according
to the top Indian diplomats here the Chinese leadership went
out of the way to convey a very strong message of establishing
a close and vibrant strategic ties focussing more on trade and
international cooperation on issues like climate change.
But once again the Pakistan factor has cast a shadow
on the new found optimism as China pressed ahead with its
plans to build two 650 mw nuclear reactors to Pakistan
disregarding concerns from India and the US.
China has already informed the 46-member Nuclear
Suppliers Group, (NSG) about its plans. Menon's visit being
worked out at India's initiative comes just three days ahead
of the arrival of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari here,
which showed the urgency India attached to this issue.
China has not spoken openly about the reactors and the
issues relating to them were expected to be firmed up during
Zardari's visit from July 6-11.
"India should not pay attention to the Chinese plans
to build civilian nuclear reactors to Pakistan. It is under
the supervision and guidelines of International Atomic Energy
Agency, (IAEA). This should not worry India," Ma said.
He said China has already effected a major change to
its South Asia policy. It is not the same as it was in 1980 he
said, apparently referring to open pro-Pakistan policy
followed by Beijing to check India’s reach and influence.
"China has now separated relations with India and
Pakistan and wants good relations with both of them," Ma said.
"Our present policy towards India is different from
the past and we look for a vibrant bilateral relationship with
India. China take India as a strategic ally and friend," Ma
who had visited India several times said.
He said, Menon being a former envoy to Beijing and
with vast contacts with Chinese officials perhaps remove the
misconceptions.
"He speaks Chinese well. That is added advantage," Ma
said, adding that the two countries could step up cooperation
in climate energy, handing of the international financial
crisis and regional security.
For its part China too was expected to convey its
concerns over to Menon over recent Indian curbs over Chinese
telecom equipment.
Some of the companies like Huawei offered to shift
manufacturing to India to ally India's security fears. Menon's
visit may end the stalemate.
On the trade front his talks with the Chinese
officials was expected to include a review of China's
initiatives to open its domestic markets for China to bridge
to trade deficit, which touched USD 16 billion last year.
With bilateral trade expected to touch a new high of
USD 60 billion this year, India is keen to bridge trade
deficit. PTI KJV
KAB
