India reassures China over Tibet issue

Herald Globe (IANS) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

With Beijing worried over the Tibetan unrest, India Wednesday reassured China that it considered the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of China and reiterated New Delhi's policy of not allowing anti-China activities on the Indian soil.

Keen to keep bilateral ties on course, the two sides resolved not to let contentious issues come in the way of stronger relations and decided to ramp up people-to-people contacts and trade and economic relations in 2012.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna held separate meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, State Councillor Dai Bingguo, who is also China's Special Representative for boundary talks with India, and Zhou Yongkang, a powerful member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Chinese leaders are understood to have raised the Tibetan issue during their meetings with Krishna, who began a three-day visit to China Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Krishna confirmed that the Tibetan issue was raised.

In his talks, Krishna said, he reiterated India's position on Tibet and assured that Chinese leaders that New Delhi was dealing cautiously with the internal affairs of China.

"Hence, we have to be very cautious (on the Tibetan issue) and any help we can render, we are too willing to provide it. But I don't think that situation will arise," he said.

In a press release, the Chinese government said Beijing appreciated the firm support of New Delhi over the Tibetan issue.

China Tuesday had vowed to crack down on growing unrest in Sichuan province and accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting the recent violence.

Beijing regards the Tibetan spiritual leader as a "splittist" and suspects him of instigating unrest from his abode in Dharamsala in northern India where he has been living for over five decades.

In November last year, the scheduled boundary talks between India and China were deferred after China protested the presence of the Dalai Lama at the global Buddhist conference New Delhi was hosting.

India has made it clear to Beijing that the Dalai Lama is India's honoured guest, but at the same time has given an assurance that he or his followers will not be allowed to indulge in anti-China activities on the Indian soil.

Asked if Chinese activities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir figured in his talks, Krishna said India has already conveyed to Beijing in unequivocal terms that Pakistan was illegally occupying certain territories of Jammu and Kashmir.

Against the backdrop of much-publicised differences over a host of issues, both India and China resolved not to let sensitive ties skid off the course. Krishna told his Chinese counterpart that while the two countries work to resolve outstanding issues, they should not be allowed to adversely affect ties in other areas.

Yang announced that Chinese President Hu Jintao would visit India March-end for the fourth BRICS summit of the leaders of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.