Author:
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: January 15, 2002
Making a prime ministerial visit
after a gap of ten years, China, a close of ally of Pakistan, today agreed
to cooperate with India in combating terrorism as part of steps to strengthen
trust and understanding between the two countries. It also said that India
need not have anything to fear from India.
As Prime Minister Zhu Rongji began
the official part of his six-day visit, the two sides agreed to further
intensify economic cooperation, signalling resumption of direct flights
between Beijing and New Delhi by March end and to promote business exchanges,
tourism and people-to-people contacts. Mr Rongji had wide-ranging discussions
with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Indo-Pak developments, review
of bilateral relations and international issues of mutual concern which
was followed by delegation-level talks.
At a banquet hosted for the visiting
dignitary, Mr Vajpayee said, 'Cooperation against terrorism is at the top
of the agenda of all peace-loving countries, and I am happy that we have
agreed today to jointly counter this menace.' The PM noted that the progress
in clarification and confirmation of the line of control signalled the
intention to move ahead in different sectors in a 'defined and time-bound
manner'. He said 'these and other steps will go a long way in strengthening
trust and understanding between the two countries.'
The two countries signed an agreement
on enhancing cooperation in tourism and also agreed on a memoranda of understanding
for cooperation in space, science and technology and providing hydrological
information in downstream Brahmaputra river during flood season. Mr Vajpayee
said bilateral relations had steadily built up a new momentum and have
diversified in recent years.
Welcoming resumption of dialogue
at the highest level, he observed that India and China were no strangers
to each other. "Ours has been a unique example in history of close interaction
and peaceful co-existence over centuries between two advanced and distinctive
cultures'. He said "As the most populous countries in the world, both of
us have to address problems of greater magnitude and complexity than at
any time in our history." - Agencies
