CHINA-INDIA 2LST

Menon, who shares a good rapport with top Chinese
leaders and officials from the days of being the Ambassador
here, was expected to bring about fresh perspectives to
resolve the boundary question which continues to prolong
despite 13 rounds of talks so far.
This is his second visit here this year. He visited
the country in July as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy and held
talks with both Wen and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Menon’s arrival here comes soon after the meeting
between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna with his
Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Russia, India,
China, (RIC) meeting at Wuhan on November 14. It was followed
by the fourth round of bilateral strategic dialogue between
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Zhang Zhijun on November 16.
During these meetings, India has highlighted its
concerns, specially related to the row over stapled visas for
Kashmiris on the ground that it is a disputed territory.
The issue has become a major irritant in bilateral
ties as the recent refusal of visa to top Indian General B S
Jaswal on the ground that he headed troops of Northern
Command, which included Jammu and Kashmir, had provoked India
to put on hold bilateral defence exchanges.
Pressing China to address the issue, Krishna and Rao
impressed upon their Chinese counterparts to be alive to
India’s concerns just as New Delhi is sensitive to Beijing's
concerns over Tibet and Taiwan.
Officials hope that some way forward is expected to be
found in the run up to visit of Wen to New Delhi, who among
others was expected to bring about more clarity to Chinese
stand on supporting India’s bid for Permanent seat in the UN
Security Council in the aftermath of the US President Barack
Obama’s backing for it during his recent visit to New Delhi.
PTI