China today assured that the "lawful rights and interests" of the 22 Indian diamond merchants who were arrested in January this year would be protected.
On the eve of the meeting between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, China today assured that the "lawful rights and interests" of the 22 Indian diamond merchants who were arrested in January this year would be protected.
Wen is visiting India on a three day visit for talks with Indian leaders.
"The case has been handed over to the judicial procuterate. The concerned authorities are treating the case fairly in accordance with law," the Chinese foreign ministry in statement here about the Indian diamond merchants from Gujarat who were languishing in a prison in Chinese city of Guangzhou.
"The competent authority guarantees that the lawful rights and interests of the concerned people will be taken into consideration. It will fulfil the relevant obligation and duties as provided for in the consular agreement," it said.
The merchants have been provided three consular accesses so far, it said. The merchants were accused of smuggling the diamonds into China through Hong Kong.
Though they were held in January, they have not yet been formally charged so far. Chinese authorities have permitted certain facilities like providing vegetarian food and other facilities at the request of the Indian officials and family members of the merchants.
The issue figured during the strategic talks held by foreign secretary Nirupama Rao with Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Zhijun here last month.
After the talks Rao said several of the merchants were not keeping well and efforts were on to find whether they could be released after paying fine.
Officials say the issue has become complicated as India and China have no prisoner exchange agreement.
Asked during a briefing here whether the merchants detention would figure in Wen's talks with the Indian leaders, Chinese foreign ministry Spokesperson, Jiang Yu told the media yesterday that she "can not predict" what kind of issues will come up during the talks.
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