Hua Hin (Thailand):
It's now clear Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised all key disputes with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in their meeting on Saturday. The PM stressed on the need to have trust and peace with China and told Wen that the Dalai Lama is our guest.
Speaking out on Sunday, Dr Manmohan Singh announced that the Chinese Foreign Minister will be visiting India to discuss all bilateral issues.
But Dr Singh also spoke in some detail about the touchy issues that have ratcheted up tension in the past few weeks - these being the border dispute, the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradest and the construction of a dam by the Chinese on the Brahmaputra in their territory.
On the border issue, the PM said that China and India have reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility at the border. But he warned that one doesn't have to go to media to exaggerate the differences.
"The premier and I reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility on the border pending a resolution of the boundary question. Both of us agreed that we should continue and strengthen efforts to build political trust and understanding," said Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister.
On the Chinese demands against allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh next month, the PM said he explained to premier Wen that the Dalai Lama is India's guest and a religious leader.
He added that he's not aware of the Dalai Lama's plans. Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China which is why the visit of the Dalai Lama is a prickly issue with it.
"I explained to premier Wen that the Dalai Lama is our honoured guest, he is a religious leader. We don't allow Tibetan refugees to indulge in political activities and as proof of that last year we took resolute action during the Olympics when there were reports that some Tibetan refugees might disrupt the process," the PM further said.
The PM even raised another contentious issue about a dam that China is apparently building on the Brahmaputra while it's still in Tibet.
Dr Singh said he raised issue of China building dams with Premier Wen. The Chinese leader said an expert level mechanism will look into it.
On the issue of starting a dialogue with Kashmiri separatists, the PM said:
- He had a sincere desire to engage all sections of political opinion in Jammu and Kashmir
- And that he would like political groups outside mainstream to engage in constructive dialogue
On the controversy over the prisoner swap in West Bengal to release a policeman, the PM refused to comment but said that the Centre and States need to tackle the Naxal issue, as it was one of India's biggest problems.