Manmohan Singh meets Chinese premier to ease tensions

CHA-AM HUA HIN (Thailand): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao met in Thailand on Saturday to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern against the backdrop of the war of words between the two neighbours over Arunachal Pradesh.

Singh, who arrived here yesterday, and Wen held crucial bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in this Thai beach resort.

In his opening remarks during the meeting, Wen said "we want to have healthy and steady relationship with India."

Prime Minister Singh congratulated Wen on 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Their meeting came as the two countries struck conciliatory notes after provocative statements from China on Arunachal Pradesh evoked a sharp reaction from India.

China regards Arunachal Pradesh a disputed territory and objected to Prime Minister Singh's visit there for assembly polls, triggering sharp reaction from India which asserted that the state is an integral part of the country.

"Bilateral relationship will be in focus," foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said last night ahead of the meeting between Singh and Wen.

Rao said the relationship between the two countries is a "complex one" though it has "developed in many areas" in recent years.