Indian PM ends China visit, leaves for Kazakhstan

Ajay Kaul Sanya (China), Apr 15 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Friday left for Kazakhstan, completing his
three-day stay here during which he attended the BRICS Summit
and held bilateral talks with the Presidents of China, Brazil,
Russia and South Africa.
Singh will be in Kazakh capital Astana for two days
during which both the sides will sign an inter-governmental
framework agreement on civil nuclear cooperation and some
other pacts.
Attending the third BRICS summit here, Singh pushed
for closer cooperation, particularly in the field of economy
among the five fast emerging nations.
BRICS (India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa)
took a significant step towards enhancing economic cooperation
when the members countries signed an agreement under which
they will be able to provide credit to each other in local
currencies and collaborate in capital markets and other
financial services.
The summit also discussed the volatile situation in
West Asia and North Africa, particularly developments in Libya
and the impact on the BRICS counties. They collectively voiced
their opposition to the use of force in Libya and pitched for
a central role for the UN and regional organisations in
resolving the matter.
In Sanya, Singh also met Chinese President Hu Jintao
during which it was decided that India will send a military
delegation to China later this year, marking resumption of
high level defence exchanges, which had been suspended in last
July.
India had put high level defence exchanges on hold
after China denied proper visa to the then Northern Army
Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal.