Vice President Hamid Ansari today held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and conveyed the new Indian government's interest in furthering bilateral ties, even as he flagged off India's concerns over border related issues during his parleys with the top leadership here.
Ansari's talks with Xi were significant as the Chinese President is due to hold his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil in the coming weeks.
Arrangements were on in full swing for Xi's visit to New Delhi later this year that will highlight his interest in developing close ties with India.
Ansari, who came to take part in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence, held talks with Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao.
During the talks with the top leadership here, Ansari, the senior most Indian leader to visit China since the NDA government took office, highlighted Prime Minister Modi-led government's interest in furthering ties with Beijing.
During his talks with Li Keqiang two days ago, he had raised India's concerns over China continuing to show Arunachal Pradesh in its maps and Beijing's plans to build rail links with Pakistan through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
On the issue of continued incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), both sides agreed that peace and tranquility should be maintained.
Coinciding with his five-day visit, India and China today signed three key MoUs, including one on industrial parks and flood data of Brahmaputra river.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Ansari and Li Yuanchao after they held bilateral talks.
The MoU on industrial parks is aimed at attracting Chinese investments in India and provides an enabling framework for Chinese companies to invest in industrial parks and zones.
Under the MoU, the two countries have agreed to cooperate to increase mutual investment in each other's economies.
The MoU on flood data sharing will provide India with 15 days more of hydrological data of river Brahmaputra. The data helps India in flood forecasting.
India provides money for maintenance of three hydrological centres on the Chinese side. The data will be provided from May 15 to October 15 each year.
The third MoU will help the two countries establish a framework for regular interactions between administrative officials to share experiences and learn from each other's best practices. Specific programmes of cooperation will be worked out subsequently.
