China denies reports of diverting Brahmaputra: Govt
Press Trust of India / New Delhi Aug 06, 2009, 15:39 IST
The government today said that China has denied reports suggesting it was planning to divert the course of the Brahmaputra river.
"Chinese foreign ministry has denied such reports," MoS for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha query. She said the government was regularly monitoring the flows of the river.
"India and China have established an expert-level mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on all issues regarding trans-border rivers," the minister said.
Preneet Kaur said the government was giving "careful and special attention" to the development of infrastructure in the border areas opposite China to meet the security requirements and facilitate economic development there.
In reply to another query, Preneet Kaur said that over two lakh Chinese nationals have visited India on business visas till June 2009 from 2004.
The Minister added that an advisory has been issued to Indian missions and posts abroad to observe norms for grant of business visas to prevent their potential misuse.
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