(a) whether the Minister of External Affairs recently visited China; and
(b) if so, the details of the discussion held and the agreements signed between both the
countries during the visit?
(a) whether the Minister of External Affairs recently visited China; and
(b) if so, the details of the discussion held and the agreements signed between both the
countries during the visit?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a)- (b) EAM undertook an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 4 to 7
June 2008. He called on the Chinese Vice President, Mr. Xi Jinping, during which both leaders
had positive discussions on the importance of India-China relations and the role of the two
countries in the 21st century world.
In their talks, EAM and Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr. Yang Jiechi reviewed the understandings
reached during PM’s visit to China in January 2008, and also discussed how to promote more
trust and understanding in concrete terms. It was mutually agreed that future high-level visits
including the visit by NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo to India and by Rashtrapatiji to China would be
a positive affirmation of bilateral ties. It was agreed that the Chinese Foreign Minister would
visit India in 2008 [the visit took place on 8 September 2008]. The matter of trade deficit was
raised with the Chinese side. Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed willingness to address this
concern and also said that China would be sending a corporate purchasing mission (which has
since visited India in October 2008). Both sides discussed future steps regarding finalisation
of the India-China Regional Trading Arrangement and agreed that it would be discussed by the
Commerce Ministers of the two countries. The two Ministers discussed the India-China Boundary
Question and agreed that the Special Representatives should be encouraged to continue their
discussions to find a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. They reaffirmed the
importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, pending final settlement
of the boundary question. They agreed to hold the second joint military exercise and the second
defence dialogue in India in December 2008. Functional cooperation in the areas of water resources,
energy, environment, culture etc were discussed. The two Ministers also welcomed the decision to
hold a ‘Festival of India’ in China and a ‘Festival of China’ in India in 2010 in order to promote
greater awareness of each other’s culture. The Chinese side said that they “understand and support
India’s aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations, including in the Security
Council.†Both sides agreed to positively view each other’s participation in regional processes,
to strengthen coordination and consultation within regional mechanisms and to explore together
and with other countries a new architecture for closer regional cooperation in Asia.
During the visit, an MoU for provision of hydrological information of the Brahmaputra River in
flood season by China to India was signed. The other events included: formal inauguration by EAM
of the new Consulate General of India in Guangzhou; address by EAM at Beijing University on
‘India’s Foreign Policy Today’; EAM attended the ceremony organised for the joint release of
stamps by India Post and China Post to mark the commemoration of India-China bilateral relations;
and witnessed the handing over of the Padma Bhushan award to Prof. Ji Xianlin. EAM also had a
meeting with Mr. Wang Yang, the Party Secretary of the Guangdong CPC Provincial Committee, in
Guangzhou.