Trade tops agenda for Wen's visit

Talks to cover infotech, communications and civil aviation.

The government has chalked out an 11-point agenda, including information technology, communications, aviation, terrorism and culture, it will take up with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, when he arrives on a state visit to the country on Saturday.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was held on to decide on the issues to be taken up with the Chinese premier.

Informing the Left parties of the agenda, the government said it was looking at building "mutual facilities" for the development of bilateral trade.

China has already sought that free trade areas be set up. Left leaders were told the proposal was being considered by the government, though nothing had been formalised.

Independent enquiries revealed that a framework agreement on a possible regional trading area at some point in the future will be discussed with China.

Officials said Finance Minister P Chidambaram would not be present as he will be on a foreign trip during Wen's visit.

Both the governments have agreed to increase air connectivity. Indian exports to China, especially iron ore, will be pushed.

Regarding the border agreement with China, the Left parties were told that China had agreed to the "principles of the border agreement" between the two countries.

The Chinese premier will reiterate the formal recognition of Sikkim as a part of India. In the area of cultural co-operation, the Indian and the Chinese film industries will be asked to come up with joint productions and China will be promoted as a shooting location for the Indian film industry.

Wen will leave for China on April 12.