‘Stapled visa’ issue avoided by China during the talk

BEIJING: On Wednesday China avoided giving a clear commitment to amend its system of giving stapled visas to people born in Jammu and Kashmir during a 50-minute talk between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The Chinese president said the matter was still being examined.

National security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon said the issue of stapled visas was not discussed during the meeting as “work” is in progress in this regard. New Delhi is obviously heartened by China’s decision to give normal visas to four journalists born in J&K, who are accompanying the Prime Minister.

He said, “It has been agreed that a multi-command Indian military delegation will visit China later this year.”

On its part, India demonstrated its generosity by lifting the deadlock on defense exchanges that it had imposed last year after Beijing refused visa to an Indian general posted in J&K. National security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon announced in Sanya, the venue of the meeting, that defense exchanges will be resumed shortly.

The two countries have also reached an in-principle agreement for setting up working mechanism for consultations and coordination on border affairs to handle maintenance of peace and tranquility along the boundary, Menon told journalists.

The Chinese delegation is expected to visit as early as June and will be headed by a corps commander level officer of the rank of Lt General. The two countries have reached an in-principle agreement on setting up a mechanism for consultations and coordination on border affairs.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister sought better access for Indian goods in Chinese markets, particularly in IT, pharma and engineering sectors. Hu said trade imbalance was a serious issue, and China will try to resolve it. Both leaders agreed that the bilateral trade will reach the target of $100 billion by 2015.

“I wish to reaffirm the desire to strengthen strategic and economic partnership with China in every possible way”, said Singh and began the meeting this afternoon. Hu said he looked forward to exchanging views on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.