Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) Amid renewed efforts by India and China to smooth out rough edges in their ties, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna next week goes to Beijing on a three-day visit that will review bilateral relations and set the stage for Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit here March-end.

Krishna, who leaves here Tuesday, will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on a wide gamut of issues, including ways to achieve balanced bilateral trade and accelerating high-level exchanges to build greater confidence in the relationship.

In Beijing, Krishna will formally inaugurate the refurbished chancery at the Indian embassy.

Krishna and Yang are also expected to exchange views on a host of global issues like the festering global financial crisis, climate change, maritime security and counter-terrorism, said informed sources.

The sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union on Iran will also figure in the discussions, with both countries declaring their intention to continue buying Iranian oil.

Krishna is also expected to call on the Chinese president and extend invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit New Delhi for the fourth BRICS summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa March 29.

Efforts are also on to arrange a meeting between Krishna and Chinese Communist Party politbureau member Xi Jinpeng, who is expected to succeed Hu Jintao later this year.

Krishna’s visit to Beijing comes weeks after special representatives of India and China held boundary talks in New Delhi and sealed a new border mechanism framework to maintain peace on the disputed boundaries between the two countries.

The mechanism will facilitate real-time contact between the foreign offices of the two countries in case of intrusions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — the de facto India-China border.

A host of contentious issues have tended to shadow bilateral ties in recent months. China has voiced its concern over India’s deal with Vietnam for exploration in the Chinese-claimed South China Sea. India has defended the deal.

India scaled down a defence delegation visiting China last month after Beijing refused to give visa to an Indian officer on grounds that he was from Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite divergences with Beijing on some issues, the two sides have emphasised that the positives outscore the negatives.

Bilateral trade has exceeded $60 billion, with both sides confident of scaling it up to $100 billion.