Beijing: As China geared up to send a
high-powered delegation to India to put the strained ties back
on track, a state-run daily today cautioned that the two
countries should be on guard against efforts by elements from
within and outside to derail ties.
Zhou Yongkang, ranked ninth in the hierarchy of the
ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), will be visiting New
Delhi towards the end of this month to hold talks with top
Indian officials, officials said here.
The visit by Zhou, member the influential Politburo
Standing Committee in-charge of political, legal and
legislative agenda, has set off speculation that China is
making efforts to warm up to India and to repair the damage
caused by a host of issues, especially the denial of visa to
Lt Gen B S Jaswal on the ground that he headed troops in Jammu
and Kashmir, which China regards as disputed.
After the incident, India had put on hold all the
defence exchanges between the two countries.
Zhou`s visit is more or less confirmed but the dates
are under finalisation, an official here said.
His visit is being seen as a precursor to the visit of
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the next few months.
An article carried by the official China Daily, titled
`China, India made for each other` says both nations should be
on guard against elements trying to foment problems.
"Of course, there are still some unresolved
differences between the two countries, from border disputes
left over by history to competition in energy, resources and
markets, and some trade frictions and investment limitations
set by India on Chinese enterprises," the article written by
Du Youkang, Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at
the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University said.
It said India has always harboured a grudge against
China`s "normal engagement" with other South Asian countries
and noted that the 1962 border conflict that interrupted
healthy development of bilateral relations, and that their
mutual trust is still to be restored to the highest level.
"Some ill-intentioned elements are making use of some
or all of these problems to create trouble and confusion," it
said.
"Now they need to step up vigilance, and guard against
elements - inside as well as outside their countries - which
try to create trouble and push bilateral relations off the
tracks," it said.
Diplomats here usually attach significance to write
ups in the state media, especially on inter-state relations as
they are presumed to have been cleared at the top of the
Chinese government to send a subtle message.
PTI
