Beijing: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held candid talks with Chinese leaders, specially on
contentious issues like presence of PLA troops in POK,
terrorist training camps in Pakistan and prolonged detention
of 22 diamond merchants from Gujarat on charges of smuggling.
Briefing the media here about his talks with Wang Gang,
vice chairman of Chinese People`s Political Consultative
Conference, Modi said he raised concerns over reports of
presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)
as well as terrorist training camps which has security
implications for Gujarat which is a border state with
Pakistan.
In his interaction with Wang, who is also a member of the
politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China, Modi said he
highlighted the issue of presence of Chinese personnel in POK,
which has security implications for India besides the training
camps being run by Pakistan in PoK.
China has stated in the past that its People`s Liberation
Army personnel were in PoK to provide humanitarian relief to
the areas affected by floods.
The Chief Minister, who is on a five-day visit to China,
said he also raised the circulation of controversial Indian
maps, minus some parts of Kashmir and Arunachal which was
distributed by a state-owned Chinese company TBEA at a
business function in New Delhi.
Modi also raised the issue of the detention of 22
Gujarati diamond merchants from Surat who were arrested in the
Chinese city of Shenzhen about two years ago.
On the economic front, Modi said Chinese leader Wang
expressed keen interest in the development projects in Gujarat
and he expects China to establish special relationship with
his state after Japan and Canada.
The BJP leader said he had also raised the issue of
establishing a sports university in Gujarat in collaboration
with China.
Cheng Fengxiang, Vice Minister International Department
of Communist Party of China, hosted a welcome banquet in
honour of the Chief Minister. He also held a meeting with Modi
alongwith the members of his delegation.
S. Jaishankar, the Indian Ambassador to China,
accompanied Modi in his meetings with the Chinese leaders.
Earlier in the day, Modi made a strong pitch for Chinese
investments, asserting that his state, which is the "growth
engine" of India with the best infrastructure, offers
excellent returns for foreign investments.
Modi, who is on his fourth visit here, struck an
emotional chord while addressing a well-attended China-India
business get-together, stating that he found "abundant love
and affection" during his trips to China, whose people have a
special place in his heart.
"China and its people have a special place in my heart. I
admire their hard working, disciplined and resilient nature
and above all, their sense of history. Our cultural bonds are
very strong and deep-rooted. Over the years, our relations
have further strengthened. We are committed to making them
still better, fruitful and productive," Modi said.
"I have seen growing interest among Chinese companies to
work in Gujarat. We wholeheartedly welcome them. My personal
visit is to reinforce that process," he said.
Later, Modi and his delegation held talks with the Ai
Ping, Vice Minister of International Department of the ruling
Communist Party of China, (CPC) which invited him to the
country.
Besides Beijing, Modi would visit Shanghai and Chandu
where he will address a business get-together.
PTI
