Krishna heads to China Sunday, UNSC on agenda
By IANSFriday, November 12, 2010
NEW DELHI - Bolstered by the US backing, India is expected to press China for categorical support to its bid for UN Security Council permanent memberhip and discuss contentious issues like stapled visas when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna visits China Sunday.
Accompanied by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and other senior officials, Krishna leaves for the central Chinese city of Wuhan Sunday to attend the 10th trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China.
The two-day meeting will continue dialogue on building confidence among the three emerging powers and deal with expanding strategic cooperation to forge multi-polar world order.
Besides exploring new ideas for expanding cooperation in areas of trade, development and energy, the three ministers will also discuss regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, said official sources.
Krishna will also meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the meeting, said the sources.
In his bilateral talks with Yang, Krishna is likely to press him for more explicit support by China for India’s candidature for the UN Security Council and also press Beijing to join the process of consultations for the reform of the Security Council.
A day after Obama endorsed India’s bid for permanent seat in the UNSC Nov 8, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson struck a positive note in Beijing, saying China was ready for consultations on the issue and values India’s status in international affairs. This was seen by some observers here as “a step forward”.
The meeting will also firm up the agenda for the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India mid-December.
Krishna is likely to press his Chinese counterpart to stop the Chinese policy of issuing stapled visas for Indian citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, that is seen by New Delhi as a deliberate move to question its sovereignty over its northern state.
Krishna will also meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for bilateral talks. The two ministers are expected to give finishing touches to the agenda for the forthcoming visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev late December.
