Beijing, Oct 12: Welcoming the removal of Sikkim as a separate country from China's official website, experts have termed it a "logical step" by the new leadership here to deepen political trust and understanding, and resolve pending issues with India. "This is a logical step taken by the Chinese side following the meeting between premier Wen and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in June," former Chinese ambassador to India, Cheng Ruisheng said.
Hoping the step would further promote political trust and understanding between India and China in the 21st century, he said Beijing was taking a "step-by-step" approach on the Sikkim issue adding "China might also make a cartographic correction of its maps to show Sikkim as part of India". Commenting on China's decision, foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue described Sikkim issue as a question left over from history and suggested a "gradual" approach.

"We think that one should respect history and take into consideration practical factors on this question. We hope that it will be gradually solved with the development of the relations between China and India," Zhang said. Expressing satisfaction over the "smooth" development of India-China relations after Vajpayee's visit, official sources here hoped the "fruitful" meeting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha had with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session last month, would accelerate the process.

Bureau Report