New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Chinese premier Li Keqiang will hold formal talks in Delhi today on key international, regional and bilateral issues.
Dr Singh yesterday in a "firm, upfront and constructive" manner raised India's boundary concerns with the Chinese premier and said it is essential to maintain peace and tranquility at the border, government sources have told NDTV. Dr Singh, sources added, said that without maintaining peace at the border, the relationship between the two countries will suffer.
The PM's comments come in the wake of the recent stand-off between the two neighbours in Ladakh. On April 15, the Chinese troops had set up camp in Ladakh, deep inside Indian territory and refused to vacate despite hectic military and diplomatic negotiations. The 20-day border stand-off finally ended on May 5.
The meeting between the Prime Minister and his Chinese counterpart was supposed to last 30 minutes, but went on for an hour, sources said, adding it was "candid but cordial." At the meet, which came just hours after Li landed in New Delhi, Dr Singh also raised the concern on water. China, meanwhile, raised the Tibet issue. India said The Dalai Lama is a respected spiritual and religious leader and Tibetans are not allowed to conduct any political activity, sources said.
The PM later hosted a dinner for the visiting dignitary, who is on a three-day trip to India. The dinner, at Dr Singh's official residence, 7 Race Course Road, was attended by members of major political parties, including Sushma Swaraj, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Prakash Karat. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi were also present.
"Everything is on the table," Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale said when asked about the issues to be discussed between the leaders of the two countries, which are witnessing differences on various crucial matters including boundary, waters and on market access under economic ties.
Li is visiting India nearly 27 years after he made his last trip here. This is his first overseas official visit after assuming office in March.