BEIJING: Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid began a two-day trip to China yesterday, as the Asian giants seek to repair the damage from a border flare-up that highlighted long-rumbling tensions.
A foreign ministry source in New Delhi said trade and commerce would feature “prominently” in the visit, describing India’s trade deficit with China as a “huge issue”.
Two-way trade totalled $69bn in 2012, dominated by $54bn of Chinese exports to India, figures from Beijing’s commerce ministry show.
“India will be looking at making inroads into their pharmaceuticals and information technology sectors,” the source added.
But ties between the neighbours remain dogged by mutual suspicion that lingers long after a 1962 border war high in the Himalayas.
The informal frontier dividing the two countries, called the Line of Actual Control (LAC), has never been formally demarcated, although the two sides have signed accords to maintain peace in the area.
The Indian source said that discussions on a cooperation agreement for better communications on the LAC were “most likely”.
The latest stand-off began in mid-April when India accused Chinese soldiers of setting up camp nearly 20 kilometres inside a region claimed by India.
Beijing dismissed the accusation at the time as the “speculation of some Indian people”, saying Chinese troops “have never trespassed the line”.
China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said this week that thanks to “joint efforts” both sides “properly handled” the incident.
“The sound of steady development of bilateral relations serves the common interests of both countries and peoples,” she said. “China and India are both important developing countries and emerging economies.”
Khurshid will meet Premier Li Keqiang and his counterpart Wang Yi, she told reporters, without providing further details.
AFP
