India urges China to revisit technical hold with zero tolerance towards terrorism

India on Saturday urged China to revisit its technical hold in line with its own professed zero tolerance towards terrorism.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held three-hour-long discussion earlier today on bilateral issues, regional and global developments and also on the preparations for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Organisation meeting.

According to sources, a discussion on China's technical hold on listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 Committee was also taken up during the meeting. Besides, India's Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership was also discussed at a length.

Swaraj outlined the importance of meeting India's clean energy goals in the context of COP-21 and offered to discuss any technical issues that China may have.

At the meeting, the situation on the border was reviewed and further steps to strengthen peace and tranquillity was discussed. Both leaders agreed that the Director Generals of Disarmament of the two countries would meet soon, said sources.

Swaraj also conveyed India's concerns on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Regional and international issues, including implications of Britain's Exit from The European Union (BREXIT), situation in Korean Peninsula, UNSC and forthcoming G20, East Asia Summit, BRICS were also on the agenda.

The South China Sea, however, was not brought up by China, said sources.

There were positive assessment of expanding investments, more infrastructure cooperation, easier visas, greater tourism and expanded cultural, academic and civil society interactions. A new mechanism at level of Foreign Secretaries was agreed to discuss ties.

Stating that the progress in bilateral ties was reviewed, as also challenges on some recent issues, sources said overall, the discussions were in a positive, constructive and open spirit.

Meanwhile, Wang also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the G20 Summit to be held in China in September. The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to President Xi Jinping.