India conveys its concern to China over terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil

NEW DELHI - The Centre has conveyed serious concern over terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who will be reaching Islamabad today.

Wen Jiabao was told in Delhi that stability can come to this region only when forces of terrorism are defeated.

Interacting with mediapersons here on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Wen Jiabao himself referred to the terrorism China is facing in Xinjiang province.

She said India can move forward in its relations with Pakistan only when terrorist groups and their leaders stop pursuing their anti-India agenda.

On the issue of stapled visa for residents of Jammu and Kashmir that has been of core concern to India, Mrs. Rao said the officials of India and China should have “in-depth” discussions to resolve the differences on stapled visas issued to Indian citizens from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Hot Line between the Prime Ministers of India and China has been operationalised. The agreement to set up the Hot Line was signed between the External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in April this year.

Expressing satisfaction over the growing quantum of bilateral trade and investment ties, India and China has agreed to further broad base and balance trade and economic cooperation, and identify new opportunities to realize the vast potential for future growth.

Towards this objective, both sides agreed to establish a Strategic Economic Dialogue to enhance macro-economic policy coordination, to promote exchanges and interactions and join hands to address issues and challenges appearing in the economic development and enhance economic cooperation.

They also agreed to set a new bilateral trade target of 100 billion dollars by 2015.

The two sides agreed to take measures to promote greater Indian exports to China with a view to reduce India’s trade deficit. hey also agreed to expand cooperation in infrastructure, environmental protection, information technology, tele-communications, investment and finance on a priority basis to draw on each other’s strengths and pursue mutual benefit and win-win results.

India welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and participate in India’s infrastructure development such as in roads, railways and in the manufacturing sector.

The two sides agreed to encourage greater mutual investment and project contracting cooperation between businesses of the two countries, appropriately handle economic and trade frictions and differences and jointly oppose protectionism in all forms.

They constituted an India-China CEO’s Forum to deliberate on business issues and make recommendations on expansion of trade and investment cooperation.

India and China also agreed to grant permission to the banks of the other country to open branches and representative offices. Modalities will be worked out by the concerned authorities. (ANI)