India visit fruitful: Wen

We have taken Sino-Indian relations to a new level, says Chinese Premier

At the end of his four-day visit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao summed up his visit to India as having yielded "rich results" but reiterated China's position on India's place in the United Nations according to the wording of the joint declaration signed by him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

China supported India's "aspirations" to playing a "bigger role" in the UN, he said. No endorsement of India's claim to becoming a member of the UN Security Council with veto powers was forthcoming from China, rendering somewhat premature, celebrations on this score.

At a meeting with reporters that was replete with many smiles and much good humour, Wen described the visit as historic and that the Sino-Indian relations had been taken to a "new level" following his discussions with Singh. He said he shared the Indian Prime Minister's view: that history had been made during the visit.

But whatever Wen may have told the Prime Minister at their one-on-one meeting, publicly he maintained that "China reiterates that we attach great importance to the important role of India in international affairs. India is a populous country and is also a important developing country. We fully understand and support the Indian aspirations to play an even bigger role in international affairs including in the UN," he said, when asked about India's candidature to the UN Security Council.

On another matter, however, Wen went beyond the joint declaration. While addressing a FICCI-CII function during his visit, he had said India and China had agreed to comprehensive co-operation in economy and trade in a five-year timeframe.

Today, he repeated this after signing the joint declaration (that incidentally mentions no timeframe). India's reservations on expanding trade relations with China too rapidly, are well known. It has, therefore, kept the issue of trade relations, including a regional trading arrangement open-ended. From Wen's statement, it would appear that China would like to force India's pace in this area.

Asked whether China's military assistance to Pakistan would not come in the way of its relations with India, Wen, who had come here after a visit to Islamabad, said co-operation in the nuclear field was for peaceful purposes.

Such co-operation between China and Pakistan was in complete compliance with the non-proliferation treaty and under the supervision and safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency, he said.

The Chinese leader also made it clear that the Sikkim issue was no longer an irritant in bilateral ties. "Sikkim is no longer a problem in the Sino-Indian relations," he said.

Wen said three "major results" had emerged from his visit. This included the joint statement under which the two sides agreed to establish an Sino-Indian strategic and co-operative partnership for peace and prosperity. "So, we have taken the relations to a new level," he said.

Second, the two sides had signed the very first political document outlining guiding principles for a settlement of the boundary question.

"This is a sign that we have brought our boundary negotiations to a new stage," he said. Third, the two sides had agreed on a five-year plan for comprehensive co-operation in economy and trade, he said.

The Chinese leader recalled that during his farewell call with Singh last evening, the Indian leader had told him "Prime Minister, actually we two are making new history".

On the emerging trilateral co-operation between India, China and Russia, he said this should not be construed as an alliance targeting any other country. Asked whether China wants to play a role in Saarc, Wen said Beijing would like to cooperate with countries in South Asia to further facilitate peace and stability in this region.

China was keen to promote friendly ties with these countries, he said.

China, he said, welcomed India's liaison and co-operation with international and regional organisations including the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation.

Wen stressed that there could be greater co-operation in the light of expertise China has in hardware and India in software. Stressing that China favoured a "new lasting relationship" with India, he said "a stable and growing China is in the interest of India like a stable and growing India is in the interest of China".

Wen did some blunt speaking on China's ties with Japan. "The core issue of China-Japan relations is that Japan needs to face up to history squarely".

He said: "last century, the aggression waged by Japan inflicted tremendous sufferings and hardships on people in China, Asia and the world at large. Recently, we have witnessed demonstrations and protests in neighbouring countries of Japan including in china targeting Japan's attempt to become a permanent member of the Security Council".

Japan should have "deep and profound reflections" following these protests, he said adding only a country that respects the history, takes responsibility for it and wins the trust of people in Asia and the world at large can take greater responsibilities in the international community.