‘I am satisfied with talks with Wen Jiabao,’ says Manmohan Singh

ON AIR INDIA ONE - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the talks he held with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of ASEAN summit a day ago.

Interacting with media persons onboard his special aircraft, which was flying from Vietnam capital Hanoi to Delhi, the Prime Minster informed that during his bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on Friday, both discussed all issues of bialateral interest in totality, and resolved to find practical, pragmatic mutually satisfactory solution to them, including the disputed boundary question.

“In general way, we discussed totality of our two country’s resolve to find practical, pragmatic mutually satisfactory solution to the border problem, and then, recognized the complexity of the issues that we have to deal with. Meanwhile, peace and tranquility has to be maintained along the border,” Dr. Singh told media persons.

Asked if he thought China has softened its position, Dr. Singh said: “I don’t want to get into hot or cold. Whatever PM Wen Jiabao has said, I am satisfied with it.”

He said: “India and China should have a strong relationship. Misunderstandings should be removed. For this, I have invited him to India, and he has accepted my invitation. In the very near future, he will come to India.”

On Friday, India and China expressed their resolve to further their relations through dialogue.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao instructed their officials to “work their way through” all difficult issues.

The two leaders met for 45 minutes on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

Premier Wen said he would visit India before the year-end. He suggested that both sides reach a consensus on some major aspects to lay the foundation for the visit.

Both leaders directed their Special Representatives — Shiv Shankar Menon and Dai Bingguo to address all issues, including the boundary question, with a “sense of urgency,” with Dr. Singh highlighting the need for both sides to be sensitive to each other’s core issues.

On Friday, the National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon told journalists that the Special Representatives would hold a meeting in Beijing towards the end of November and added that he and Dai Bingguo had been given clear directions on how the two leaders wanted them to resolve all difficult issues. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)