(a) whether Chinese premier visited India recently;
(b) if so, the details of the talks held with him;
(c) the outcome thereof;
(d) whether the issue of supply of Chinese military aid to Pakistan was also taken up; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a)-(e): Chinese Premier Mr. Zhu Rongji paid an official visit to India from 13-18 January 2002. He was accompanied by his spouse Madame Lao An, Mr. Zhang Zuoji, Minister for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and other senior officials. He visited New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Agra.
Premier Zhu`s visit was part of continuing high level political exchanges between the two countries. His visit helped to further promote the development of bilateral relations.
In New Delhi Premier Zhu called on the President and the Vice President of India. He had wide-ranging discussions with the Prime Minister on bilateral and other issues of mutual interest. The External Affairs Minister, Hon`ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha also met the Chinese Premier.
The two sides signed six MOUs / Agreements on cooperation pertaining to science and technology, outer space, tourism, phytosanitary measures and supply of hydrological data by China to India in respect of the Brahmaputra river during the flood season. These documents reflect the expansion and diversification of India-China relations.
The two Prime Ministers also agreed
(i) to accelerate the process of clarification and confirmation of the alignment of the Line of Actual Control along the India-China boundary;
(ii) to establish a bilateral dialogue mechanism against terrorism (modalities are being discussed between the Foreign Ministries); and
(iii) that the Seventh Meeting of the Ministerial level Joint Economic Group will take place at an early date to look at ways and means of strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Prime Minister has been invited to visit China and has accepted the invitation. Dates for the visit will be settled through diplomatic channels.
Government remains concerned at certain aspects of the China-Pakistan relationship which adversely affects our security. This includes Sino-Pak defence cooperation including in the nuclear weapons and missile development programme. We have made known our concerns to the Chinese side.