India and China have agreed in principle to work out a mechanism to remove irritants on border issues and resume defence exchanges. Briefing reporters after the meeting between the Prime Minister Dr . Manmohan Singh and the Chinese President Hu Jintao, the national security advisor Shiv Shanker Menon said in Sanya that the details of the agreement will be worked out .He however said that the special representatives of the two countries will continue their dialogue on border and next round of talks will be held in Delhi.Mr. Menon said it was decided to start Defence exchanges again and a multi command Indian army will visit China later this year. High level defence exchanges were suspended after China refused visa to a high ranking officer of northern command last year. Mr. Menon said that while there was satisfaction over the growing trade ties between the two countries as they are set to achieve the trade target of 100 billion US dollars by 2015. The two countries are soon having economic dialogue to enhance trade and economic partnership.National Security Advisor said that the issue of trade imbalance was taken up in the meeting and many measures are being taken to reduce the gap which is in favour of China at present. He said that Prime Minister took up the issue of market access to Indian pharma, IT, agro industry and engineering sector and the opening will also help in reducing the trade gap.Mr. Menon said that the two leaders launched year of India in China and many high level visits will take place during the year. He said that both the leaders extended invitations to each other to visit each others countries and both Dr. Singh and HU Jintao accepted the invitation. He said it was also agreed that people to people contact will be strengthened.Giving details about the meeting the Prime Minister had with the Russian president, Mr. Menon said that the two countries underscored the need to reexamine the nuclear safety and execute it jointly. This is important in the wake of recent crises at a nuclear plant at Fukushima in Japan . The two leaders reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations and focused on cooperation in the Hydrocarbon sector. The crises in Libya and some other north African states also figured in the two meeting and it will be further discussed in the BRICS Summit meeting tomorrow.
News On AIR | April 13, 2011 6:00 PM
India, China agree to work out mechanism to remove irritants on border issues