NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who is embarking on his first official visit to India from January 13, will be urging both India and Pakistan to make their 'best efforts' to resolve all their differences through peaceful negotiations, a senior Chinese official said in Beijing on Tuesday.
"We hope the two sides will make their best efforts to seek peace through dialogue and consultations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told reporters.
Zhu will be in India from January 13 to 18 after visiting Bangladesh from January 11 to 13, Sun said adding China hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint and refrain from allowing the situation to deteriorate and seek solutions to outstanding issues through dialogue and consultation.
Zhu's visit to India will be the first in over a decade by a Chinese premier.
Asked whether Zhu, who has met Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf twice in the past two weeks in Beijing, would be carrying any message to the Indian leadership, Sun said: "We hope they will reduce the tension through peaceful negotiations. This is in the fundamental interests of the two countries. It is also the common aspiration of the international community."
Commenting on the tense military standoff, Sun said: "We are deeply worried by the exchange of fire along the border between India and Pakistan. We are common neighbours with the two countries. We are closely following the situation."
Commenting on Zhu's visit, which was earlier scheduled for November 2001, but postponed in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist strikes in the United States, Sun noted that this was the first overseas visit by a Chinese leader in the new year.
"Bangladesh and India are important neighbours of China. The Chinese government always attach importance to developing good neighbourly relations and friendly cooperation with the two countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful co-existence," he said.
During the visit, Zhu will exchange views with the leaders of the two countries on bilateral issues, regional and international issues of common interest, he said.
Zhu will hold official talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and call on the President and the Vice-president.
"We believe that his forthcoming official visit will consolidate the traditional friendship between China and the two countries and enhance mutual understanding and trust, expand the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields," Sun added.
Zhu, who will be leading a high-level delegation, including nearly 20 top Chinese businessmen, would be visiting Agra, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
