[A-List] India-China strategic dialogue

["Sabri Oncu" <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Hindu
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006 

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  

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+ Boundary issue discussed in a "proactive manner" 
+ Solution could be explored on the basis of the India-China 
strategic partnership 
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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.