India, China to set up hotline, but stapled visa issue remains
Beijing also not ready yet to back india’s claim for UNSC seat.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: India and China have agreed to set up a hotline between the leaders of the two countries. However bilateral discussions have not assuaged Indian concerns on the issue of stapled visas or Chinese participation in PoK.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who addressed the media after external affairs minister SM Krishna’s meetings with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and foreign minister Yang Jeichi, said the issue of Beijing giving stapled visas to Indians from Kashmir is “a subject of ongoing discussion” .
“We do not accept the stapled visas on the passports of residents from Jammu and Kashmir. Our position in this regard was again made clear during talks. They (the Chinese side) listened attentively what we said. We underlined the need for more sensitivity to be shown to Indian concerns. This is a subject of ongoing discussion with China. That is where it stands at the moment ,” Ms Rao said.
She further said that Mr Krishna had also conveyed Indian concerns on the PoK projects . Beijing, however, assured New Delhi that undertaking projects in PoK did not change China’s policy that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to be resolved through dialogue. “The Chinese side was given the full picture of why we feel this way about their activity in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” she said. “What they (China) do in PoK is without prejudice to their position on PoK.”
On India’s seeking support for a UNSC seat from China, Ms Rao said Chinese leaders have reiterated their known position on the matter and have promised to listen closely to India’s concerns. China has continued to support a ‘bigger role’ for India in the United Nations but has not spelt out any details. The two sides discussed regional security and terrorism.
However, the two sides also did not discuss a report that accused China-based hackers of hacking into documents on the defence ministry and a number of Indian embassies around the world. The two countries, who have vowed to reduce the trust deficit, did sign an agreement for a hotline between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao . The hotline plan was made by Chinese president Hu Jintao and Mr Singh at last year’s BRIC meeting.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who addressed the media after external affairs minister SM Krishna’s meetings with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and foreign minister Yang Jeichi, said the issue of Beijing giving stapled visas to Indians from Kashmir is “a subject of ongoing discussion” .
“We do not accept the stapled visas on the passports of residents from Jammu and Kashmir. Our position in this regard was again made clear during talks. They (the Chinese side) listened attentively what we said. We underlined the need for more sensitivity to be shown to Indian concerns. This is a subject of ongoing discussion with China. That is where it stands at the moment ,” Ms Rao said.
She further said that Mr Krishna had also conveyed Indian concerns on the PoK projects . Beijing, however, assured New Delhi that undertaking projects in PoK did not change China’s policy that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to be resolved through dialogue. “The Chinese side was given the full picture of why we feel this way about their activity in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” she said. “What they (China) do in PoK is without prejudice to their position on PoK.”
On India’s seeking support for a UNSC seat from China, Ms Rao said Chinese leaders have reiterated their known position on the matter and have promised to listen closely to India’s concerns. China has continued to support a ‘bigger role’ for India in the United Nations but has not spelt out any details. The two sides discussed regional security and terrorism.
However, the two sides also did not discuss a report that accused China-based hackers of hacking into documents on the defence ministry and a number of Indian embassies around the world. The two countries, who have vowed to reduce the trust deficit, did sign an agreement for a hotline between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao . The hotline plan was made by Chinese president Hu Jintao and Mr Singh at last year’s BRIC meeting.
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