May 26, 2010
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday left for Beijing. It is reported that during the visit a number of agreements, are likely to be signed. Nirupama Rao Foreign Secretary told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday, “It also signals our unequivocal commitment to deepen and expand our Strategic and Cooperative Partnership with China.”
Rao said, in Beijing, the President will have an extensive talk with her counterpart Hu Jintao. She will also meet with other senior Chinese leaders including Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao. The Foreign Secretary said, “We are confident that Rashtrapatiji visit will be instrumental in re-affirming and enhancing the long-standing ties of friendship between our two nations and our two peoples.”
Rao said “all bilateral issues and the situation in the region will be discussed.” It will include issuance of stapled visas by China, involvement of Chinese companies in various projects in Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir and China’s assistance to Pakistan in building two nuclear reactors. She said the relationship between the two countries should not be predicted on one or two issues alone. She further added, “I would like to note that developing friendly cooperation with China has been one of the priorities of our foreign policy and we are pleased that our relations are becoming truly multifaceted.” In a bid for, UN Security Council seat during the forthcoming visit, the Foreign Secretary asserted, “They have taken note of our legitimate aspirations for a greater role in the UN and more specifically, in the UNSC.”
Patil will also visit the famous White Horse Buddhist temple in Loyang, which was built in 68 AD when Buddhism was introduced in China by Chinese Monk Xuanzan. India has built a Buddhist temple close to it, which Patil will inaugurate, as a gesture of goodwill and friendship. She will also travel to Shanghai and visit China and India Pavilions at the Shanghai Expo.
