India expects substantive outcome from talks with China: MEA

NEW DELHI: India today said it expects "substantive outcome" from the discussions between Vice President Hamid Ansari with his Chinese counterpart Li Yuanchao when they hold talks in Beijing later this week.

Ansari is travelling to China tomorrow on a five-day visit at the invitation of Li.

This is the first visit of an Indian leader to China after Narendra Modi government took over last month. It is also Ansari's first visit to China, Narendra Modi government took over last month. It is also Ansari's first visit to China,and the first by an Indian Vice President since 1994. Then Vice President K R Narayanan had visited China in 1994.

"We expect substantive outcome based on the discussions between the two Vice Presidents....India and China have maintained regular contacts at high level. This is part of our strategic communication with each other," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters here ahead of the visit.

He said Ansari's visit is part of sequence of visits by leaders of the two countries and regular exchanges.

"It is expected that it will add new content and substance to our bilateral relations with specific outcome," he said.

A high-level delegation, which includes Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, is travelling with the Vice President.

Ansari is travelling to China to attend events to mark the 60th anniversary of Panchsheel at Beijing on June 28 and 29.

Besides meeting his Chinese counterpart, the Vice President will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. He will also call on President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

"Apart from the bilateral aspects of the Vice President's visit, he will also participate in a trilateral summit on behalf of India. At the trilateral summit meeting, there will be the host China, the President of Myanmar and India. This summit is to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Panchsheel," Akbaruddin said.