Krishna to hold talks with four Chinese leaders tomorrow

Beijing: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna is set to hold talks on Sino-India ties with four senior Chinese officials here tomorrow besides inaugurating the new Indian embassy building.

Setting aside protocol, the Chinese government has lined up meetings with four of its key officials with Krishna, signifying the importance it attached to bilateral relations, even though his visit was regarded as a private one aimed at inaugurating the embassy building.

Krishna's three-day visit, starting tonight, assumed significance as he is scheduled to have talks with Chinese leaders on various aspects of the India-China ties, which have seen several ups and downs in recent months, Indian officials here said.

Krishna would begin his day tomorrow by meeting Zhou Yongkong, who is the ninth ranked member of the nine-member politburo of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, (CPC).

Zhou also looks after the security aspects of the country.

He visited India in 2010 and had met several Indian leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

It was after this visit that China tacitly agreed to reverse its policy of giving visas on a separate piece of paper to residents of Jammu and Kashmir, which drew strong opposition from India.

After meeting Zhou, Krishna would have a luncheon meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi.

The two are set to discuss various issues concerning bilateral ties, officials said. MORE