New Delhi, June 25: Congress today adopted a cautious approach on the China visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying that it was studying the joint declaration issued in Beijing yesterday. "We have welcomed the Prime Minister's visit to China. We are now studying the text of the joint declaration issued in Beijing yesterday. It is a lengthy document, which needs careful scrutiny. We are studying whether greater accommodation on Tibet and Sikkim has been shown without corresponding reciprocity," party spokesman Jaipal Reddy told reporters here.

He said the visit was a continuation of the historic process started by late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 which was carried forward by prime minister P V Narasimha Rao.

"The Prime Minister, on his return will, we presume, inform the nation on his assessment of the China visit," he said.

Bureau Report