Border agreement signed, not on visa regime
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, October 23 2013:
India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while giving his Statement in Beijing after a delegation meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today said when India and China, two ancient civilisations, shake hands the world watches.
Truly said, the visit of India's PM to China from October 22 to 24 came in the wake of border unrest and stapled visas on Arunachalese by the Chinese Government.
Term as productive, nine MoU was signed between the two countries.
An important one being the MoU on Border Defense Cooperation.
However, there was reportedly no agreement on the issue of stapled visas.
In his statement, Dr Manmohan Singh said, "We agreed that peace and tranquillity on our borders must remain the foundation for growth in the India-China relationship, even as we move forward the negotiations towards a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement to the India-China Boundary Question" .
Other Agreements and MoUs included road transport sector, trans-border rivers, power equipment, cultural exchanges, Nalanda University and sister-city linkages.
The two countries agreed to explore avenues to bridge the gap of unsustainable trade imbalance.
We are taking forward the suggestion made by Premier Li in New Delhi for a Chinese industrial park to act as a magnet for Chinese investment in India said Singh, India and China will also explore feasibility of the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor connecting the two countries via the southern Silk Road.
High-Level Media Forum and youth exchanges were also decided be encouraged and institutionalised.
The year 2014, was agreed to be celebrated as "Year of India-China Friendly Exchanges" .
While the response on stapled visa is yet to come from the Chinese side, Prime Minister in his speech said he has put forward a proposal for visa simplification both for Indian and Chinese nationals, raising his concerns of several stapled visa that are being stamped upon Arunachalese travelling to China.
The latest being the case of the two girls Maselo Mihu and Sorang Yumi who were denied regular visa but were given a stapled visa by the Chinese embassy on October 12.The two archery were to take part in the Youth Archery World Championship that began on October 13 .
A strategic benchmark, according to Prime Minister, the 10 articles in the MoU on border agreement states that the cooperation will be based on respective laws and relevant bilateral agreements.
Modalities will include exchange of information about military exercises, aircrafts, demolition operations and unmarked mines.
To Jointly combat smuggling of arms, wildlife, wildlife articles and other contrabands.
Assist each other in locating personnel, livestock, means of transport and aerial vehicles that may have crossed or are possibly in the process of crossing the line of actual control in the India-China border areas, On the implementing mechanism the agreement says there will be Flag meetings or border personnel meetings at designated places along the line of actual control.
Periodic meetings between relevant Military officers and between departments responsible for military operations of China and India.
Periodic meetings of the representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the two country consultation meetings on border affairs and Annual Defense Dialogue.
The two sides agree that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.
In case a doubtful situation arises with reference to any activity by either side in border areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, either side has the right to seek a clarification from the other side.
Prime Minister will hold further meet with other Chinese leadership and the public later today and tomorrow.
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