Manmohan may visit China this year

HANNOVER: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to visit China later this year if Chinese President Hu Jintao is unable to visit New Delhi for 'some reason', according to National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress in Sino-Indian talks on the boundary dispute, Narayanan said, ''We are expecting a visit to India by the Chinese President this year because it is his turn. If for some reason he is unable to come, the Prime Minister may visit China.''

Narayanan is the Special Representative on the Indian side for the talks with China on the lingering border dispute. Chinese vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo is his counterpart.

The two Special Representatives have so far held seven rounds of talks, the last round taking place in Kerala in March. Narayanan said the talks were making progress. ''We are making progress...suddenly you will see a burst of progress in the process,'' he added.