E-Book: India, China Vision

. Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping, terms 'very fruitful meeting': Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, met Chinese President Xi Jinping shortly after his arrival in Fortaleza, Brazil, today on the eve of the Sixth BRICS Summit. The 80-minute meeting was the Prime Minister's first summit-level interaction with China. The two leaders observed that India and China had enormous opportunities to not only forge mutually beneficial partnerships, but also serve as catalytic agents of Asian and global prosperity. President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of the bilateral relationship and said When India and China meet, the whole world watches. The two leaders were pleased with the opportunity to meet within a few weeks of the assumption of office by Prime Minister. They expressed satisfaction at the high momentum of bilateral engagement during the past few weeks, including the visit of Vice-President of India Shri Hamid Ansari to China and the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India as President Jinping's Special Envoy, in June. Both sides emphasized on the need to find a solution to the Boundary Question. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the border. He said that if India and China could amicably resolve the Boundary Question, it would set an example for the entire world, on peaceful conflict resolution. Narendra Modi suggested the addition of one more route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, keeping in view the terrain difficulties. President Xi Jinping accepted this as a suggestion for consideration. The Prime Minister called for enhanced Chinese investment in the infrastructure sector in India, and hoped that the trade imbalance between the two countries is resolved. President Xi Jinping agreed that balance in trade is necessary for a sustainable economic relationship. He also said enhanced services exports from India to China could be one way to address the issue. China has invited India to attend an APEC meeting in November this year. President Xi Jinping also said India should deepen its engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The Prime Minister said India currently has observer status in the SCO, and was ready to accept additional responsibility, if asked to. Shri Narendra Modi warmly recalled his visits to China as Chief Minister. He underlined that relations between countries are built on the strength of relations between their people. He expressed hope for increase in tourism and ties between the people of the two ancient civilizations. Prime Minister expressed hope that President Xi Jinping's planned visit to India this year was an opportunity to chart a new and ambitious agenda for the strategic partnership between India and China. He expressed appreciation for the invitation extended to him to visit China and looked forward to an early visit. (Source PIB). Source: Article .. Chinese Premier Hails Singh's Visit As 'Landmark' Event: Beijing, Oct 23: (IANS) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday hailed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China as a 'landmark' event in bilateral relations, which will inject new impetus to ties between the two countries, reported Xinhua. "This is another high-level visit between China and India after my visit to India in May, and it is the first time since 1954 that the Chinese premier and Indian prime minister visit each other in the same year," Li said during talks with Manmohan Singh. Li said the Indian government and people have effectively responded to the recent powerful tropical cyclone in the country's east, which caused deaths and property losses. He expressed condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and those affected. Li also thanked India for successfully rescuing 17 Chinese ship crew members near waters off India's eastern coastline earlier this month. Manmohan Singh recalled his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Durban in March on the sidelines of a BRICS summit and Li's visit to India in May. He said Li's maiden trip to India shows the importance that the new Chinese leadership attaches to its ties with India. Manmohan Singh arrived in Beijing Tuesday on a three-day official visit to China. President Xi and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet with Singh separately. The Indian prime minister will deliver a speech at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Source: News Track India Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prior to their meeting in New Delhi, capital of India, May 19, 2013. [Li Tao/Xinhua] Li calls for closer economic ties: China and India need to establish stronger economic ties, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Mumbai on Tuesday. Premier Li delivered a speech in the China-India Business Cooperation Summit. Li said the deepened cooperation and common development of China and India, the world's two biggest developing countries, will create an incredible impetus to the world. "The biggest stage for China-India cooperation is in the economy, the greatest potential is in the market, and the major players are the enterprises," Li said. "The enterprises of both countries hold the key to expanding two-way trade and mutual investment," he stressed. The Chinese premier noted that the current trade and investment level between the two sides is incompatible with the economic scale of both countries and their bilateral relations. That gap indicates enormous potential and vast space for deeper cooperation, he said. During his visit, the leaders of the two countries have broadened their strategic consensus and enhanced strategic mutual trust, Li said. The relevant departments of the two governments will soon be busy negotiating and making plans to create a fair and just environment for businesses from both countries to exploit each other's markets and expand mutual investment, Li added. China and India boast a deep traditional friendship, has witnessed touching stories like that of late Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis and has gone through thick and thin together, Li said, adding that they now have more reasons to join hands to carry out closer cooperation. Li said China and India should develop their economic and trade relations from an overall perspective, and that only the entrepreneurs with long-term and broad sight can seize the opportunities. Deepening China-India cooperation can not only help entrepreneurs accomplish their causes, but also will create opportunities for Asian and world economic growth, he said. The Chinese premier said India and China, having created splendid civilizations in the past, could definitely produce new and great miracles if they join hands and maintain a "future-oriented" attitude. As part of his first tour since taking office, the Chinese Premier will also visit Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. (Xinhua contributed to the story). Source: China.org.cn, Li offers free trade pact, vows to open up market, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Tuesday offered to initiate talks for a free trade agreement with India and said the world's second biggest economy was willing to give more market access to Indian products to bridge widening trade deficit. Addressing the Indian business community in New Delhi, he emphasised on the need for enhance bilateral trade and investments between the two nations. "We also understand India's concerns of trade deficit. China is also willing to provide facilitation to India's products to access Chinese markets. "I am confident that we have the ability to mitigate the trade imbalance between our two counties and China never has any intention to seek trade surplus and only a dynamic trade balance is a sustainable trade relations," Li said. While India's export to China stood at only $13.52 billion in 2012-13, its imports from that country aggregated $54.3 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $40.78 billion during the last fiscal. Both the sides have aimed at taking the two-way trade to $100 billion by 2015. At different fora the government and the domestic industry have flagged concerns over the ballooning trade imbalance with China and has demanded greater market access for Indian products like pharmaceuticals, IT and agriculture. "We need to reduce trade imbalance. Our two-way trade is less than $70 billion and we need to enhance the dynamics of trade balance," Li said. Although Li expressed willingness to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement, Indian industry is wary of any such move due to the competitive disadvantage and high trade gap with the neighbouring country. "China is willing to launch negotiations on a China-India regional trading arrangement," the Chinese premier said. On the issue, former Ficci president RV Kanoria said that before initiating any such talks with China, the government should address domestic problems like high transaction cost. "Before starting any kind of negotiations with China on FTA, Indian government should address domestic problems like high transaction cost, land problems and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST)," Kanoria said. Apex exporters body FIEO said that if Chinese companies invest in India in manufacturing sector, "we can substantially reduce our dependence on Chinese imports". On investments, Li said that his government supports Chinese enterprises to increase investments in India and expand trade in services. "China and India are huge markets with great potential... Our industrial structure are highly complimentary. India has a competitive edge in IT, software and bio-medicines, while China is seeing rapid expansion in machinery, textiles and emerging industries," he added. Both the countries had completed a joint study in March 2005, when India's trade deficit with China was $1.5 billion, to examine the potential benefits of greater trade and economic cooperation. The joint study group in its report had recommended that the governments appoint a joint task force (JTF) to study in detail the feasibility and benefits of a possible China-India regional trading arrangement, and also give recommendations on the contours of such a pact. The JTF subsequently finalised its draft report covering trade in goods, trade in services, bilateral investment, trade facilitation and economic cooperation. However, the proposal was kept on back burner due to the strong opposition by Indian industry which feared dumping and flooding of Indian markets by Chinese firms. The top five items of imports from China are electrical machinery; mechanical machinery; project goods; chemicals and iron and steel. Also, in the past few years, imports of power and telecommunication equipment have seen a huge surge. India's exports to China comprised largely ores, cotton, chemicals and raw materials. China accounts for a fifth of India's total trade deficit of $190.9 billion with the world. Source: Hindustan Times, Maharashtra best for investment: CM to Li: Maha best for investment: CM to Li, Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday sought Chinese help in setting up industrial corridors in the state. Mr Chavan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Taj Mahal Palace, where he marketed Maharashtra as the best investment destination for Chinese companies.The meeting between  Mr  Chavan and "Gr Wiki MH Transport Road 192dpi" by n.m.panse - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons. the  Chinese  Premier  went  on  for about 45 minutes. State industries minister Narayan Rane, protocol minister Suresh Shetty and chief secretary Jayantkumar Banthia also accompanied the CM. “Mr Keqiang asked the CM about the efforts taken by the state government to make Mumbai an international business centre. The Chinese Premier also praised the new basic infrastructure projects and development of Information and Technology in the Mumbai. He said that he had visited Mumbai 27 years ago and he found a sea change in the city’s infrastructure. He also said that the purpose of his visit to Mumbai was to explore opportunities in investment in industry, infrastructure and information technology sector. He informed that he has already discussed the idea of creating China-India-Bangladesh-Burma industrial corridor with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” informed an official from the chief minister’s office. Mr Chavan told the Chinese Premier that the state government is ready to create Special Investment Zone for Chinese companies if they are willing to invest in Maharashtra. “There are four major Chinese companies that have set up projects in Maharashtra. Currently, Chinese companies are doing production of construction equipment, trucks, air conditioners and refrigerators. But Chinese companies also have a big opportunity in making investments in basic infrastructure,” the CM said, adding, “All these leaders showing interest in making investments in Maharashtra indicates the state’s progress.” Source: Article,  India and China strategic partners and good friends: China PM Li information" with India. Li, who arrived in India Sunday, said the important outcome of his visit "India China 453x302px". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. . Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after their joint press conference in New Delhi, India, May 20, 2013. [Xinhua]  was that the two leaders had reached "strategic consensus". China and India, he said in his statement to the media, had a "combined population that exceed one third of humanity". Their "amicable relationship", he said, was the new engine for the world economy. "Since we are strategic partners and good friends, we can speak with candour," he said, adding that they did not deny there were problems. Source: News-Bullet, India's trade deficit with China set to grow: Chinese analysts, Notwithstanding steps announced by India and China to reduce their trade deficit during premier Li Keqiang's ongoing visit, Chinese analysts believe the imbalance is likely to keep growing in the short term due to structural problems.  "India's trade deficit with China is expanding. In the short term, that's hard to resolve. The imbalance is mainly because India has limited exports to China, while Chinese manufactured goods have a competitive advantage in the Indian market," Liu Xiaoxue, a researcher on South Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said. The slower growth pace in China in recent years, together with overcapacity in the steel and iron sectors and the Chinese government's tightening policies in the real estate sector, reduced demand for Indian raw materials — mainly iron ore and iron sand, which account for the bulk of Indian exports to China. That's the reason behind India's increasing trade deficit with China, Liu told China Daily. In the first four months of the year, Sino-India trade declined 6.2% year-on-year. Chinese exports increased 3.6% and imports decreased 24%, yielding a trade surplus of $8.83 billion, according to China's General Administration of Customs. In 2012, bilateral trade dropped 10.1%, and China's exports went down 5.7% while its imports plunged 19.6%, leaving a trade surplus of $28.87 billion, compared with $27.17 billion in 2011 and $20.08 billion in 2010, according to customs data. Indian officials say the iron ore exports from India also fell due to investigations into allegations of corrupt practices in mine sector. "The trade imbalance is rooted in India's trade structure. India's trade deficit with China will not be reversed in the foreseeable future. Any change depends on whether India can export products that meet the demand of the Chinese market," Hu Shisheng, director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations said. Source: Hindustan Times, Li Keqiang reaches out with ‘handshake across the Himalayas’: Offering a handshake across the Himalayas, Chinese premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday reminded his Indian audience that “a distant relative may not be useful as a neighbour.” While Li could be referring to the growing India-US ties while reciting the old Chinese saying, the premier also talked about what all Indians love to hear — the promise of a balanced trade, sorting all issues, including the boundary question.“A few clouds in the sky cannot shut out brilliant sun rays, that is our friendship,” he New Delhi: India and China were "strategic partners and good friends" that could speak to each other with candour, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today while stressing on discussions between the two on the border issue and river waters. Addressing the media alongside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the visiting premier said the two countries had worked to "maintain tranquillity and peace in the border areas". Describing the border question as one "left over by history", he said both sides believed that "we need to improve border mechanisms... make them more efficient" as well as "appropriately manage and resolve our differences". Discussing the issue of river waters, he said China had in recent years shared "hydrologial asserted at a lecture on India-China ties. Stressing on shaking hands from across the Himalayas, he said it will give a bird’s eye view of bilateral and world affairs. Recalling his earlier trip to India in 1986, the Chinese premier said: “In these 27 years, I haven’t had the opportunity to use this (Namaste word)”, which he used to began his speech. “Twenty seven years ago, I visited India and I was deeply impressed by India’s vast territory, time-honoured civilisation as well as hard-working and talented people,” he said, adding the fond memories were still fresh in his mind. Li promised to address India’s concern on trade, cross- border rivers and emphasised that both countries had the wisdom to resolve outstanding issues. Chinese premier woos businessmen: On his first visit to Mumbai, Li Keqiang had two things on mind — working together to create miracles and increasing the bilateral trade between the world’s two most populated nations. Addressing a gathering of about 250 Indian businessmen at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Hotel, Keqiang said the purpose of his visit was to establish newer ties between the two nations. “China and India are developing economies and could be important partners… The issue of trade and investment between the two nations needs to grow fast and expanded further,” he said. Keqiang talked about his meeting with the Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and IT services solutions provided by the company to many banks in China. He also sent out invitations to the Indian business community. “Just as India’s IT solution which has competitive edge, other sectors too have great space for the same in China,” he said. Source: Hindustan Times. India an important neighbour:  Li, New Delhi: India  is an "important  neighbour", Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today while stressing that the main aim of his visitwas to increase areas of mutual interest and intensify cooperation. "India is China's important neighbour. (The purpose of) my current visit to India is three-fold -- to increase mutual interest, intensify cooperation and to face the future," Li said outside Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "Combined population of India and China account for a third of humanity. Development and prosperity of the world cannot happen without simultaneous development of India and China," the Chinese premier added. He hoped that during this visit "both sides increase mutual strategic trust". Li added that his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday night were "productive". "Today's talks will be more bountiful. Can guarantee you when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes to China, there will be banner headlines welcoming him," he said with a smile. The Chinese leader arrived in India Sunday on his first overseas tour since he took office in March. On Monday, both sides are to hold formal talks. Li is heading an 80-member delegation that includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On Tuesday, he will  go  to Mumbai, from where he will go to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. Li had last visited India 27 years ago as the head of a youth delegation and has said he has fondmemories of that trip. Source: News-Bullet, Li: China, India to lead growth: China and India will create new engine of the world . economy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday during an official visit to India. This is Li’s maiden foreign tour after he was elected the premier of the State Council, or China’s cabinet, ealier in March. "The two countries have the will, wisdom and capability to jointly nurture new bright spots in cooperation among Asian countries, create new engine of the world economy, provide huge growth potential and market demand for Asia and the world, and push forward China-India strategic cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity," Li said at a smaller meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. "I want this visit to show the whole world that the mutual political trust between China and India is rising, practical cooperation is expanding and there are more common interests than differences," said Li. He hailed the progress made in the bilateral relations in recent years, adding that the leaders of both countries have agreed to raise the ties to a new high. "China and India are important neighbors and two most populous emerging economies. Our relations are of strategic significance," said Li. Strengthening practical cooperation between the two countries and realizing their common development will benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity, he said. For his part, Singh said the Indian government and Indian people feel honored to have Li pick India as the first stop of his maiden trip abroad. He said there is enough space in the world for the common development of India and China, adding that the two countries are partners, not opponents. Singh said cooperation between India and China has much significance for world peace and prosperity. India highly values its ties with China and is ready to work with China to advance their practical cooperation, manage and control border disputes, and lift their strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, he said. Source: China.org.cn, Li offers India FTA, more market access: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday offered to initiate talks for a free trade agreement with India and showed a willingness to give greater market access to Indian products to address New Delhi’s concerns over a widening trade deficit. On the political front, Mr Li said both nations have the “wisdom” to find solutions to problems, including the boundary dispute. He also assured that crucial issues pertaining to trans-border rivers would be looked into. “We also understand India’s concerns on trade deficit. China is willing to provide facilitation to India’s products to access Chinese markets,” said the Chinese Premier in an address in the national capital to the Indian business community. He expressed confidence over the ability of the two nations to mitigate the trade imbalance. “China never has any intention to seek a trade surplus, only a dynamic trade balance is sustainable trade relations,” Mr Li said. Mr Li assured that China would support its enterprises to increase investments in India and help Indian products gain access to the Chinese market as he supported a favourable trade balance. India had a trade deficit of $40.78 billion in favour of China last yea. The commerce ministry, under Mr Anand Sharma, has been exploring the formulation of a “China policy” to deal with this trade deficit. According to officials, India wants the trade imbalance issue addressed before an FTA is signed as it doesn’t want a bilateral FTA leading to further trade imbalances. Source: Article, Image, China, India deepen trust: Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Monday hailed his talks with the Indian leaders as having produced a strategic consensus and deepened strategic trust between the two countries. Meeting the press after talking with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, Li said at the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh jointly meet the press after their talks in New Delhi, India, May 20, 2013. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] talks, held on Sunday night and Monday morning with Singh and other Indian officials, both sides had friendly, in-depth and candid discussions. The Chinese premier and Singh have met twice for talks since his arrival on Sunday afternoon, highlighting the importance the two sides have attached to promoting the strategic and cooperative partnership. Li told the press that the two sides believe that each country should see the other's development as a major opportunity for itself. Amicable relations between China and India will be a positive thing for Asia, and common development of China and India will provide new engines for the world economy, he added. On the border issue, which is left over by history, Li said the two sides believe they have over time established the principles of settling those questions. And in the meantime, the two sides have worked together to maintain tranquility and peace in the border areas. "Both sides believe that we need to improve the various border-related mechanisms that we have put into place and make them more efficient, and we need to appropriately manage and resolve our differences," he added. "With regard to Indian concerns about trans-border rivers, we have shared hydrological information with the Indian side in recent years, bearing in mind the overall interests of our relationship and acting in the humanitarian spirit," said the Chinese premier. "And we stand ready to step up communication with the Indian side with regard to the development of water resources and environmental protection," said Li China and India are friendly neighbors, so neither side will do anything that damages the interests of the other side without getting benefits itself, he said. "Both Prime Minister Singh and I believe that there are far more shared interests between China and India than the differences that we have. And both sides need to draw wisdom from our long history and learn from our respective vast experiences," Li added. Singh said Monday in a media statement that "I shared with Premier Li my view that the rise of China and India is good for the world and that the world has enough space to accommodate the growth aspirations of both our peoples." "We agreed that both sides must work to strengthen greater trust and confidence, which, in turn, will permit much larger cooperation," he added. During Li's visit, China and India issued a joint statement Monday highlighting their commitment to expanding common ground in bilateral cooperation and coordination in various fields. After the India trip, Li will visit Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. Source: China.org.cn, India, China sign 8 pacts; to fast-track border talks, Two weeks after a tense standoff was resolved between the two sides in Ladakh, India and China on Monday decided to strengthen the mechanism to avoid a repeat of the 20-day-long impasse, which strained ties, and ‘push forward’ talks for an early settlement of the border dispute. The two countries also signed eight pacts — on trade, culture and water resources — after Chinese premier Li Keqiang, making his first foreign visit since taking office in March, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the second time in less than 24 hours after arriving in the Capital on Sunday afternoon. Saying that New Delhi saw peace along the 4,000 km-long border as the “foundation of bilateral ties”, Singh said any disruption would impact bilateral relationship. “Both sides believe that we need to improve the various border-related mechanisms that we have put into place and make them more efficient. We need to appropriately manage and resolve our differences,” Li said at a joint news conference with Singh. Contentious issues such as damming of trans-border rivers and trade imbalance -- heavily tilted in favour of China -- were also taken up. As two sides took stock of the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh's Despang Valley, Singh said the two leaders have tasked “the special representatives to consider further measures” that may be needed to maintain peace along the border. "We agreed that our special representatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement", Singh said. Though Li, the number two in the Chinese leadership, shared the same sentiment, India is not too excited about the draft of the border defence cooperation agreement China proposed on March 4. India is keen on area commanders resolving disputes like the one in Ladakh, which it sees as complementing the existing systems. The special representatives for boundary talks — national security adviser Shivshankar Menon and state councillor Yang Jiechi — are to meet in Beijing in June. Indian ambassador to China S Jaishankar termed as "sympathetic" Bejing's response to New Delhi's demand for a joint mechanism following China's plans to build two more dams on the Brahmaputra. "I am glad that we have agreed to expand cooperation on trans-border rivers," Singh said. A string of high-level visits have been planned ahead of PM Singh's. Defence minister AK Antony, his commerce counterpart Anand Sharma and planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will be in China for meetings as two sides look to improve ties. "Both countries view each other as partners and not as rivals or competitors," a joint statement said. Source: Hindustan Times, Khurshid, Li talked LAC: Still seeking answers to why Chinese troops recently  intruded  across  the undemarcated  Line  of Actual Control in the Depsang Bulge area of Ladakh, India raised the matter during external affairs minister Salman Khurshid’s meeting with new Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. The matter was raised on Friday when Mr Khurshid met Premier Li as well as Yang Jiechi, state councillor and the new special representative (SR) for boundary talks. The matter is expected to  figure in bilateral discussions when Premier Li visits India on May 20. The SRs of the two countries are expected to meet in the next couple of months to hold the 16th round of talks on the contentious boundary issue. Significantly, India has also given its own suggestions on the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement proposed by China some months ago. These were discussed during a meeting between officials from both sides in Beijing on Saturday. During the minister’s visit, the trans-border rivers issue was also discussed with Beijing assuring New Delhi that it had no intention of adversely affecting India’s downstream interests. India wants either the mandate of the existing mechanism on trans-boundary rivers to be enhanced or a new mechanism put in place. Source: Image, Article, Chinese premier arrives in India for talks: Li, who brought with him a large Chinese delegation, will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday and meet other Indian leaders including from the main . Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in India Sunday afternoon on the first stop of his maiden foreign trip, for talks on issues ranging from an unresolved border dispute to a festering trade-imbalance. opposition BJP party, foreign ministry officials said. Sonia Gandhi, chief of India's ruling Congress party, will also meet the Chinese leader, they added. India has said it thinks "very highly" of Li's decision to make the country his first overseas stop since taking charge as premier in March. After New Delhi, Li will travel Tuesday to Indian financial hub Mumbai and then to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany as Beijing seeks to address security and economic disputes.He is scheduled to address Indian business leaders in Mumbai, the officials added. India and China fought a brief but bloody border in 1962 but despite 15 rounds of talks their territorial claims remain unresolved. India also faces an increasing trade deficit with China that totaled $29 billion in 2012.  Voice  of  Russia,  AFP,  Source:  Voice  Of  Russia, Chinese Premier arrives India to hold talks on bilateral issues: Amid the much expectation between both the countries on various issues, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives here on a three-day state visit to India. It is his first overseas trip after assuming office in March, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on bilateral issues including the recent border row. Chinese Premier Li touches down late on Sunday afternoon who is to be received by Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed at Palam airport's Air Force Station, the venue for VVIP flights. The much awaited Li's is very crucial at the situation prevailing today as recently there was a Sino-Indian  border  stand-off was resolved. A platoon of Chinese troops intruded about 19 km inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) - the disputed boundary - April 15 and pitched tents. The row ended May 5 after several rounds of negotiations - military and diplomatic - with both sides reverting to the position that existed before April 15. The issue led to tensions and is likely to be discussed when Li and Singh hold restricted talks - without their delegations - Sunday evening. Singh is to also host a dinner for the visiting dignitary. Beijing's proposed border defence cooperation agreement, to which New Delhi has made suggestions to be included in the draft, is also likely to figure in the talks. Officials of both sides are discussing the draft of the border agreement. A joint mechanism for monitoring the flow of the Brahmaputra river, which flows from Tibet downstream to India, is also likely to figure. India has voiced concern over a number of dams being built by Beijing on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, or Yarlung Tsangpo as it is called. Ttrade imbalance issue is also likely to be taken up. India is to press for market access in pharmaceuticals and IT. Bilateral trade was $66 billion last year as China became India's second largest trading partner. Both sides are expected to discuss regional and international issues, including Afghanistan. On Monday, Li will hold delegation level talks with the prime minister at the Hyderabad House after which the two sides are expected to sign some agreements. The Chinese leader is to proceed for Mumbai Tuesday afternoon (May 21) and from there fly to Pakistan the next day. (With inputs from IANS), Source: News Track India Remark: Copy images url and paste to find it’s source of sharing, also get connect with each source of sharing articles via specified links. 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