China objects to ADB funds for Arunachal's irrigation project: Krishna

China had recently objected to Asian Development Bank's (ADB) funding an irrigation project in Arunachal Pradesh which is a "clear violation" of the charter of the multilateral lending agency, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.     

Replying to questions, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said India had made it clear to all member nations of ADB that political considerations cannot be cited for prohibiting the Bank for evaluating any project.     

All member countries on the board of Executive Directors of ADB except China supported the India funding plans.     

"China did not endorse the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2009-12 for India in the Board of the ADB on the ground that the proposed India CPS involved technical assistance funding for the Flood and River Erosion Management Project in Arunachal Pradesh which China claims is its territory," he added.     

India had told the ADB and all member countries including the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Germany and Italy that the CPS is not a political document and it does not make any judgement as to the legal or other status of any territory.     

The member countries were also told that "China's objection on political grounds is a clear violation of the ADB's charter which prohibits the Bank from evaluating any proposal on grounds other than economic," the minister said.

"India's CPS was discussed in the meeting of the Board of Executive Directors of the ADB on June 15 and all member countries except China supported the document," Krishna clarified.     

He said New Delhi had conveyed to the ADB member nations including China that Arunachal Pradesh is "an integral part of India and its status is not negotiable."     

ADB assistance has to be strictly decided on economic parameters and not on political considerations, he added. "Ultimately ADB had gone with India's point of view."     

"We have put across (to China) in the strongest diplomatic language possible that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India,"

New Delhi, the minister shared, wanted to resolve the boundary issue with China amicably.     

"We have friendly relations with our neighbour China. We are engaged in a multilateral activity with them. Our trade is growing and we would like to continue in that direction," Krishna said.     

India and China will meet in New Delhi next month to discuss the boundary issue, he added. "We certainly would like that China-India relationship is normal (and) extend the relationship to some kind of partnership."     

"We will have to engage China and come to an understanding," he said.     

Krishna also shared his plans to visit Arunachal Pradesh shortly. Previously, the President and the Prime Minister had visited the state, which was protested by China, he added.