NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
V Mohan Narayan and Anil Joseph in Beijing
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh arrived on Friday on a five-day official visit aimed at strengthening Indo-China ties and enhance mutual understanding.
Singh, who arrived on the first New Delhi-Beijing direct flight, was accorded a warm welcome at Beijing's international airport by senior Chinese and Indian officials.
On his arrival, Singh called for progress in Sino-India relations based on Panchsheel, mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns and equality.
"As India and China travel on the road of development and of improving the well-being of 2.5 billion people," he emphasised "the need for progress in Sino-India friendship and cooperation on the basis of Panchsheel -- the five principles of peaceful co-existence and also take into account the mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns and equality."
Singh will hold talks on bilateral ties, regional and international issues of common concern with his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan on Friday evening, Chinese foreign ministry officials said.
He will meet Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Saturday at Taiyuan in Shanxi province.
Singh would also call on Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and minister in the international department of the ruling Communist Party of China, Dai Bingguo.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Singh's visit would boost bilateral ties and lead to 'stable' Sino-Indian relations. On Sunday, the minister will address Chinese scholars in Shanghai.
Tell us what you think of this report
