New Delhi:
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in India today for a three-day visit. He brings with him an uncharacteristically large delegation of 400 businessmen. While trade will top the bilateral talks, issue of stapled visas for Kashmiris is also likely to come up.
During his visit, Wen will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He will also meet with President Pratibha Patil and UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi.
Jaibao's visit to India comes at a critical time. Over the last one year, the two countries have seen strains grow over Chinese projects in PoK and the stapled visas that China has been issuing to travellers from Kashmir, indicating that it accepts Kashmir as a disputed region.
Admitting that China's relationship with India is fragile, China's envoy to India, Zhang Yan, recently said the relationship can be easily damaged. He, however, stressed upon the need to create "an environment of mutual trust" and added that the two countries can work together.
"China will pose no threat to any country and pursue peaceful path of development. The dragon and elephant can work and prosper together," he said.
Yan asked for the Indian government to therefore step in and prevent a war of words in public discourse.
In response, India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India and China share an evolving relationship. Ms Rao gently reminded the ambassador that China is being exposed to "India's vibrant democracy where there are many points of view."
Here's what tops the agenda of Wen Jiabao's visit:
- Beijing is hoping for agreements in finance, specifically setting up Chinese banks in India
- They also want to start talks on a free trade agreement
- India will discuss the stapled visa issue which sources say could be resolved soon. Until it is, defence exchanges will remain suspended
- The two PMs will also talk about the progress, the rather slow progress, made in the boundary talks. Fourteen rounds have been held so far
- China has not been forthcoming in its support for India for a permanent UN Security Council seat. So New Delhi is expected to bring up that issue as well
While the irritants will be discussed threadbare, Indian officials say the relationship has many more dimensions that need to be explored.
The two countries are celebrating 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and while much has changed in those years, there is still a large degree of mistrust that has to be bridged.