Wen Jiabao, Shivshankar Menon discuss new ideas to take Sino-India ties forward

Showing their strong commitment to cementing the Sino-India ties, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and national security adviser Shivshankar Menon today discussed new ideas to take forward the bilateral relations, keeping in view their mutual concerns and interests.

Menon, who is here as prime minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy, and Wen held a 40-minute meeting, a day ahead of the scheduled visit of Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari to Beijing against the backdrop of strong concerns expressed by India and the US over China's plans to build two new nuclear reactors for Pakistan without the NSG approval.

Wen warmly received Menon at Zhongnanhai, the sprawling
leadership compound next to the Forbidden City, and appreciated prime minister Singh's commitment to the improvement of bilateral ties.

Menon handed over a letter from Singh, saying that the prime minister especially sent him with a personal message of friendship and his greetings and warm personal regards.

"For us in India the relationship with People's Republic of China is one of the most important that we have," Menon said.

Wen said Singh had sent an "important and timely message"
last year for the improvement of ties.

"This time you brought another personal letter from the prime minister" expressing similar sentiments, he said. "We highly appreciate his commitment to this relationship."
    
He also praised Menon's contribution to the improvement of Sino-India relations, recalling the days when he was India's Ambassador here.

"Menon, you are a Sinologist. You have long experience working in China and you have made great contribution to pushing forward friendly relationship between our two countries. I warmly welcome you to China," Wen said.

Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi, who held lengthy preparatory talks with Menon yesterday on a host of issues,
was also present during today's meeting.

Commenting on Wen-Menon talks, officials here said the two sides discussed "a way forward" in their relations. They had an exchange of views on various aspects.

Premier Wen shared his ideas on how to take the relationship forward and emphasised that the ties went beyond the bilateral scope.

"It will be Asia's century if India and China have strong relationship," he told Menon.

The national security adviser later held talks with state Councillor Dai Bingguo, who is also China's special representative in boundary talks with India.

From the Indian side, Menon is the designated official to hammer out an agreement to resolve differences over demarcation of the Sino-India border.

However, this time Menon arrived here two days ago as Singh's Special Envoy to discuss a gamut of issues that weighed in India's mind to push the relationship forward.

Among such concerns were the continuation of close military and strategic ties between the Pakistani army and People's Liberation Army (PLA) and China's decision to build two 650 MW nuclear plants for Islamabad.

China too has expressed its concerns in the past over the growing India-US strategic ties.

Dai later hosted a banquet in honour of Menon.