Chinese premier to hold talks with PM on contentious issues

On his first overseas visit after assuming office, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will arrive here today and will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on all contentious issues, including the boundary dispute.
Shortly after his arrival, Li will be holding restricted talks with Singh, who will also host a dinner for the visiting dignitary at his official residence which will be attended among others by members of major political parties, including BJP and SP.
Asserting that India thinks "very highly" of Li's gesture of making the country his first overseas stop after assuming charge, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said such high-level exchanges are aimed at enhancing trust and understanding as well as "exhibiting sensitivity" towards each other's concerns.

Giving details of Li's programme, he said the Chinese Premier, who will arrive in the afternoon, will hold restricted meeting with Singh followed by dinner.
Tomorrow, the two leaders, accompanied by high-level delegations, will hold comprehensive talks on key international, regional and bilateral issues.
On the specific issues to be discussed between the leaders of the two countries, which are witnessing differences on various crucial matters including boundary, water and on market access under economic ties, JS (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale said, "Everything is on the table."

"The two Prime Ministers would talk about these subjects. Since it (incursion) being the recent occurrence (will be discussed)," Bambawale said.

Sources said the issue of breach of status quo in Ladakh region will also be discussed and India will press that the Special Representatives of India and China, who are scheduled to meet in next few months, take it up the matter in detail to avoid such occurrences in future.
India has been pressing for clarification and confirmation on LAC in the India-China border areas pending a final settlement.
Noting that in the agreements worked out in 1993 and 1996 there were clarifications on the differing perceptions on LAC and exchanges on it, the sources said somehow in later years, this went off the table from the Chinese side, probably because there was a sense that it may be taken as a default boundary.