SINO-INDIA TRUST, MADE IN CHINA
PM also raises questions over investment in PoK CCTV SHOWS WRONG MAP
Xi’an, May 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday began a three-day visit to China from this north west city, the hometown of Chinese President Xi Jinping with whom he held “very substantive” discussions focusing on strengthening of mutual trust and the boundary issue.
On his first visit to China since assuming office last year, Mr Modi was warmly greeted by Mr Xi, who set aside protocol to receive a foreign dignitary outside Beijing in replay of the Indian leader’s gesture in September last when he welcomed the Chinese President in Ahmedabad.
Even as mutual warmth was apparent, Mr Modi raised the question of some $46 billion investment by China in an economic corridor passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), about which India had protested. The investments were announced during Mr Xi’s visit to Pakistan in April.
Another ticklish issue reportedly raised by Mr Modi concerns the issuance of stapled visas by China to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, which the Chinese claim to be a part of southern Tibet, a claim totally rejected by India.
For the record, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar said the “very substantive talks” between the two leaders covered subjects ranging from political, economic and global issues like terrorism, UNSC reforms and India’s membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
He said the two leaders discussed the boundary issue, including peace and tranquillity, besides transborder rivers.
On the economic front, Mr Modi and Mr Xi discussed the issue of trade deficit, which is in favour of China to the tune of $38 billion, and ways to address it. —PTI Beijing/New Delhi, May 14: A controversy was kicked up with China’s state-owned television CCTV showing India’s map without Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh while reporting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
The wrong map was displayed during a bulletin when Modi was in Xi’an city where he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in his hometown.
China has been laying territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir but India has been strongly resisting it. —PTI