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Salient briefing points by Secretary (East) on PM’s meetings with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts

24/10/2009

• PM and Premier Wen Jiabao held bilateral talks in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

• Wen Jiabao felicitated PM on his re-election.

• Wen Jiabao said that in the past years both PM’s had reached important agreements on how to develop and strengthen bilateral relations. This serves the interests of the two countries, the region and the world. The contribution of high level visits to the strengthening of relations was also stressed.

• PM reviewed all aspects of our bilateral relations with Premier Wen. PM reiterated our readiness to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change, world trade and the global financial crisis.

• PM referred to our bilateral cooperation in different in fields. He said that he would like to see India-China relations move forward in every direction.

• PM described our economic and trade relations as a vital pillar of our partnership. He also referred to our exchanges in the defence fields. PM proposed that both sides should observe the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in a fitting manner.

• PM welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to India next week for the India-Russia-China trilateral Foreign Minister’s meeting (in Bangalore). PM also said that our President is looking forward to visit China on mutually convenient dates next year.

• PM underscored the importance for both sides to build better understanding and trust at the political level so that our relations remain robust and strong. He stressed that neither side should let our differences act as impediment to the growth of functional cooperation between the two countries.

• PM agreed with Premier Wen’s opening remarks that our partnership is in the interest of the region and the whole world.

• Wen Jiabao said that he agreed with PM’s view on our bilateral relations. He recalled that it was during his visit in 2005 that the two countries had jointly established the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. He referred to the 10 pronged strategy agreed between President Hu Jintao and PM and the Shared Vision document during PM’s visit to China last year. WEN JIABAO said that it is important to implement these agreements and to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on bilateral as well as regional and international issues.

• Wen Jiabao pointed out that for the Asian Century to become a reality, it is important that India and Chine should live in harmony and friendship and enjoy prosperity. He said China is ready to maintain high level exchanges. The both sides should seize the opportunities of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to heighten our bilateral relationship.

• Wen Jiabao also recalled PM’s remark about both sides having enough space to develop and cooperate and added that there are sufficient areas in the world for India and China to enhance such cooperation.

• Wen Jiabao fully shared PM’s view on the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and economic relations. He suggested that the Joint Economic Group should hold early consultations. He also said that China will work with India to handle the matter of the growing trade deficit. He said that China encourages its companies to invest in India and that they welcome Indian investments in China.

• He concurred with PM that issues that may arise in the course of our bilateral relations should be properly handled through discussions and they should not become impediment in the development of our friendly relations.

On India- Japan Meeting

• Prime Minister had a very good meeting with the Japanese PM today. This is their second face-to-face meting within one month.

• The two Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to furthering the India-Japan Strategic & Global Partnership. PM Hatoyama said that he welcomed PM’s initiative to send National Security Adviser, Shri M.K. Narayanan to Japan as his Special Envoy earlier this week.

• PM reiterated that our relations with Japan are a matter of the highest priority for India. PM conveyed our desire to build upon this positive momentum through close cooperation with PM Hatoyama and his new Government. PM Hatoyama reiterated that his Government supports the development of bilateral relations in both the economic and defence and security fields. His Government is ready to work to further strengthen our Partnership.

• PM underscored the importance of an early finalization of major economic initiatives that the two sides have jointly begun, in particular, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Project, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. PM Hatoyama said that he attaches particular importance to the realisation of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Project and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project as symbols of cooperation between Japan and India.

• The two Prime Ministers also discussed the regional and international matters, including the issues of Climate Change and the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit. The two Prime Ministers have agreed to work together in a positive and constructive way on the climate change issue. PM reiterated that the solution must be based on the principles of equity and the overriding imperative of economic development and poverty reduction. PM also referred to our National Action Plan for Climate Change and reiterated India’s intention to keep our per capita GHG emissions lower than global average.

• The two Prime Ministers had a good discussion on the future of the East Asia Summit process and on the importance of evolving an open and transparent regional economic arrangement that will be most beneficial to our region. They agreed that this regional architecture needs to be based on the new opportunities that India and Japan, as important economies, present to the region as a whole. The Japanese Prime Minister said that India is an important country in the EAS process, and that both sides should collaborate in the EAS in order to develop the concepts of the regional economic architecture.

• PM has also reiterated his invitation to the Japanese Prime Minister to make an early visit to India. PM Hatoyama conveyed that he is looking forward to visiting India to further develop our relations. Dates will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

Hua Hin (Thailand)
October 24,2009

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