Agreements signed during visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India

Agreements signed during visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao

December 16, 2010

Sl. No.	Name of the MOU/Agreement	Chinese Signatory	Indian Signatory
1.	Programme of Cultural Exchange for the years 2010-2012	H.E. MR. CAI WU Minister of Culture	SHRI S.M. KRISHNA Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs
2	Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Green Technologies	MR. ZHU ZHIXIN Deputy Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission	SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
3	Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China on Media Exchanges	H.E. MR. ZHANG YAN Ambassador of China to India	SMT. NIRUPAMA RAO Foreign Secretary
4	Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China on Provision of Hydrological Data on the Sutlej River in Flood Season by China to India	MR. HU ZHANGYUE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs	SHRI D.V. SINGH Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources
5	Memorandum of Understanding between the Reserve Bank of India and the China Banking Regulatory Commission	MR. WANG ZHAOXING Vice Chairman, China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC)	SMT SHYAMALA GOPINATH Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India
6	Memorandum of Understanding between Export-Import Bank of India and China Development Bank Corporation	MR. GAO  JIAN Vice Governor, China Development Bank Corporation	SHRI T.C.A. RANGANATHAN Chairman & Managing Director, Export-Import Bank of India

New Delhi
December 16, 2010
(Source: http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530516882; accessed 21 Dec. 2010)

Pictures of the day: 15 December 2010

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives on 3-day state visit to India

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao being received by the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia on his arrival at the Air force Station Palam, in New Delhi on December 15, 2010 

(Source: http://netindian.in/sites/default/files/20101215Wen2.jpg)

 Đại diện chính phủ Ấn Độ đón Thủ tướng Trung Quốc Ôn Gia Bảo tại sân bay

(Source: http://vnexpress.net/GL/The-gioi/Phan-tich/2010/12/3BA2443E/)

India-China Relations

Keynote Address by EAM at the inaugural session of 2nd Seminar on India-China Relations

November 01, 2010

Your Excellency Mr Zhou Yongkang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo and Secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China;
Mr Wang Jiaarui, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Dr Karan Singhji, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Cell, All India Congress Committee;
Distinguished delegates from the Communist Party of China;
Members of the Indian National Congress;
Dear Colleagues;
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate this 2nd Seminar on India-China Relations being organized jointly the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of China. I warmly welcome the Chinese delegation led by Mr Zhou Yongkang to India. I also take this opportunity to thank Dr Karan Singh for institutionalizing this forum of inter-change of ideas between the two political parties. I thank Dr Mridula Mukherji, Director of the Nehru Memorial Library and Museum for hosting the Seminar. Holding today’s event in Teen Murti Bhawan has a special significance as it’s most illustrious resident Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru worked tirelessly throughout his life for strengthening bilateral ties between our countries.

2. As I speak to you today on India-China Relations, at a time when the motor of the world’s economic growth has shifted to Asia, I recall Pandit Nehru’s vision of these relations. Panditji who had deep consciousness of the rich heritage of our cultural and civilizational interaction and our millennial ties envisioned that India and China would come together as a unified force. He expected our two countries to exemplify the idea he called “Asianism”. His vision was for both nations to rediscover Asia’s pride of place after years of living under colonial rule and domination by foreign powers.

3. Today both India and China are demonstrating remarkable economic growth and social development and playing an increasingly important role in world affairs. On this road which we have traversed, we have had trials and tribulations but what is encouraging is that today’s post Cold-War world provides us the opportunity to work together to strengthen each other. There is deep realization in both China and India of the need to engage each other, and to cooperate rather than compete.

4. We cannot talk of India-China ties without seeing the reflection of history, and everyday new and more interesting evidence of age old relations are brought out by scholars. Our dear friend Tan Chung, who has contributed immensely to the development of India-China relations and understanding between the two countries, makes an astute observation quoting Reverend Daozuan, the prominent academic authority of the Tang Dynasty, that the term used to describe China by the Chinese people, that is Zhongguo (Chung Kuo) or Middle Kingdom, has been used in the past in China to even describe India or Madhyadesa. Tan Chung makes an interesting point that in the voluminous Chinese Buddhist literature over nearly two thousand years, the term Zhongguo denotes not China but Madhyadesa, the Buddha’s country- Magadha. No doubt such visceral ties have led many to say that India and China were ‘Buddhist twins’.

5. These civilizational ties between our two countries were described very eloquently by another great son of our soil, Gurdev Rabindranath Tagore who, when he arrived in China in 1942, said and I quote “I don’t know why, as soon as I arrived in China, I felt as though I was returning to my native place. Maybe I was an Indian monk in a previous life, who stayed on a particular mountain, in a particular cave, enjoying freedom”. Unquote. Gurudev instinctively sensed the grand harmony that has existed between India and China.

6. In the late 1940s, when we reached out to each other, India and China had a natural bonding and understood each other’s aspirations in a way that nobody else could. Not surprisingly, the post-1945 order was reluctant to recognize the legitimate concerns and interests of these two nations. As a challenge, leaders of our two countries had the courage and the vision to chart their own course. The Panchasheela, or, the five principles of peaceful co-existence, was their unique contribution to contemporary diplomacy. This year when we are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties between India and China, we obviously seek to honour and uphold that tradition of working together. Our endeavour is to draw inspiration from those early years of our existence as independent nations to cooperate more closely in the future.

7. As rising powers, India and China are often projected to have a competitive relationship. In the final analysis, it is up to us to disprove such scenarios by concrete examples of cooperation. Certainly, there is a strong case for a global issues partnership between India and China as two large developing Asian economies. And we are working together on key challenges that will define the 21st century. However, unless we address some of the issues of bilateral concern, our relationship will not attain its true potential for building our common future in this Asian century. While we accept that there will be outstanding issues between two large countries, we have to address on each other’s concerns and exhibit sensitivities on issues impinging each other’s security and well-being if we are to make our relationship forge ahead.

8. China is today the world’s second largest economy. India is also marching relentlessly on the way towards economic well-being. Getting our growth strategy right in an ever-changing world has its own challenges. As Asian states, we recognize that our continent lags behind Europe and the Americas in terms of economic and infrastructural integration and security cooperation. If India and China work purposefully in this direction, the whole world stands to benefit. After all, between us we are raising the living standard of almost one-third of humanity. Given the magnitude of our development efforts, there is much that can be gained through our close cooperation as we do face similar challenges of urbanization, resource consumption, food and energy security, inclusive growth and skills development. We must ask ourselves whether as neighbours and partners, each of whom are large and rising economies, are we making the best of opportunities? Can we not leverage each others’ strengths? Can we not be more sensitive to each other’s concerns? I am of the strong view that the India-China relationship is grossly under-realized and the capacities for expansion are enormous.

9. A strong and stable relationship between India and China has consequences for the entire world. Because we are different, our divergences are often exaggerated, sadly sometimes by our own people. India and China must not just cooperate; they must be seen to be doing so by the rest of the world. Our Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, often emphasizes that the world is large enough to accommodate the aspirations of both countries. But this is not an inevitable outcome. It is a goal that requires strong political will, sustained engagement and a high degree of mutual sensitivity. What can we do to make this cooperation stronger? I believe that we need to work on a wide variety of fronts as progress on one will reinforce the others.

10. At the political level we have to work closely to consolidate and strengthen our political partnership and understanding. We welcome Premier Wen Jiabao’s proposed visit before the end of the year. He will receive a warm welcome. The hotline between the two Prime Ministers will soon become operational. In addition I would suggest that Indian and Chinese leadership at all levels in the government and amongst political parties should meet frequently to boost trust and understanding. A number of dialogues and forums already exist between India and China that need to keep meeting regularly and productively. Regular meetings lead to better communication, more understanding and strengthen confidence. I would, therefore, strongly encourage an intensive and sustained engagement between the two systems.

11. Economics closely follows politics and here I would like to call upon business and industry leaders of both countries to deepen the engagement and stake in each other’s economy. China is now India’s largest trading partner in goods. Trade between our two countries this year is well on its way to achieve the US$ 60 billion target set by the Prime Ministers of our countries. While both our GDPs are growing at a fast pace and so is bilateral trade, our inter-dependence is still insufficient towards building substantive stakes in each other. Our economic engagement needs to go well beyond trade in goods and investment. We hope China will provide Indian companies a level playing field particularly in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors where we face barriers which restrict market access.

12. Within the framework of our political and economic relations I would also make the case for enhanced cooperation in multipliers such as science and technology and energy which will enable us to leverage our cooperation to bring benefits to our peoples. Both China and India have obtained considerable skill in development of cost effective and innovative technologies. Our scientists and engineers need to engage more with each other in order to allow the diffusion of these technologies. Similarly, a whole new set of challenges confront us on the energy front, where the quest is not only to obtain affordable energy but also to check carbon emission. Climate change has indeed thrown at us a challenge which can only be countered by cooperation. Our cooperation within BASIC framework reveals some new directions in which we can work together.

13. Lastly but more importantly, I would emphasize the need to build people-to-people contacts. Our interactions during the ages along the Silk Route, which saw inter-exchange of goods and ideas, have led to our mutual enrichment. Sadly, as modern nations we seem to be lacking in emulating our ancestors. There is a need to comprehensively revolutionize this aspect of our relations through cultural exchanges, education, films, sports, cuisine and tourism.

14. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have attempted to spell out what I visualize is a recipe for strengthening the India – China relationship in order to build our common future in Asia. The destinies of India and China were linked in the past. The growth of our relationship will be determined by the extent of our awareness that they are linked in the future as well. Far from sliding into complacency, we must keep pushing the pace of the relationship with new ideas and more activity. The world is watching both India and China and what we do together will decide not only our destiny but the history of the world.

Thank you very much. Jai Hind.

New Delhi
November 01, 2010

(Source: http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530116619; accessed 12 Dec. 2010)

India-China Relations

Address by Foreign Secretary on “India-China relations” at ORF Conference on China

December 03, 2010

Ambassador Rasgotra,
Ambassador Raghunath,
Distinguished invitees,
Representatives of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year saw India and China celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. A couple of weeks from now Premier Wen Jiabao will be India and will participate in the closing ceremony of the Festival of China in India which will bring to a close the calendar of activities organized in both China and India to commemorate this occasion. Sixty years is a short period of time in the relations of two countries whose ties date back many millennia. Ours has always been a broader engagement that took place between our peoples. Throughout history, scholars and pilgrims, traders and travellers, who “mortgaged their lives for pilgrimage” in the words of the renowned Chinese Indologist Ji Xianlin, engaged in a traffic of ideas between the two countries. The Buddhism that travelled from India to China was successfully Sinicised and survived in China as it found a place in the heart and soul of the people. It is in the context of our historical and popular relationship that we must always view and evaluate our contemporary relationship. Indeed, this was the vision that inspired Rabindranath Tagore during his sojourns in China in the early decades of the 20th Century.

2. The six decades of the India-China relationship behind us have record that is chequered. We became arbiters of our national destinies from the date of India’s independence and China’s liberation in the late forties of the last century, inspiring many others in Asia and Africa to independence and the fruition of national goals to end colonialism and foreign domination. This was the time when India and China in a sense, rediscovered each other, understanding the potential of the synergy between two of the largest populated nations in the world on the global stage. The vision of our founding fathers is in many ways within our reach today as we regain our place in Asia and the world as leading global economies. The awareness and the “muffled footsteps” (to use Tagore’s phrase) of historical contact between the two peoples of India and China created the basis for our well-intentioned attempt in the fifties to build a new type of relationship based on Panchasheela or the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. It was an attempt which however faltered, telescoping into the troubled phase that enveloped our relationship in the sixties up until the mid seventies. The leadership in both our countries understood the untenability of any sustained estrangement between us. The last three decades have been marked by well-intentioned efforts of exploration towards establishing the framework of a stable, peaceful, productive, and multi-sectoral relationship between India and China. Contradictions are sought to be managed, and our differences have not prevented an expanding bilateral engagement and building on congruence. There are elements of cooperation and competition that form the warp and weft of our relationship. I propose to speak to you in some detail about the specifics of this engagement.

3. There are both challenges that the relationship confronts us with and also there are opportunities before it. As our Prime Minister has said, India and China will continue to grow, simultaneously, and our policies will have to cater to this emerging reality. For India, the situation is complex since China is not only our largest neighbour but also because China is today a major power in the world both from the traditional geo-political point of view and the more current geo-economic point of view. In the world of today, China is a factor in several equations and therefore it is intellectually satisfying to see that scholarship in India is increasingly dedicated to looking more closely at all facets of China. As a nation, we should encourage more efforts to accelerate this intellectual drive to understand China.

4. I personally have had an almost three decades-old relationship with China, both in our Foreign Office while handling relations with China and thereafter when I was privileged to represent my country as India’s Ambassador to China. In this period, I have witnessed the transformation that economic growth and development have helped to achieve in both countries. I made my first trip to China in the company of an Indian film delegation in the spring of 1986. We travelled to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou. City streets swarmed with people on bicycles, and we flew in to the various places on our itinerary within China in planes that seemed ancient compared to what we had in India. There were no luxury hotels worth speaking of although economic reform had become the buzz-word. The countryside had begun to be magnetized by town and village enterprises which were elevating living standards among farmers and peasants. The trip had receded into the recesses of my memory until I saw a photograph in a recent publication of China Radio International which showed two young women – the actor Shabana Azmi and myself - standing outside a palace in the Forbidden City on a rather blustery spring day in 1986! That first trip was followed by many more, the most significant such visit being when I was a member of the official delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to China in December 1988. That visit made a historic and crucially important contribution to the transformation of the India-China relationship.

5. China’s rapid economic growth over the last three decades has been spectacular and riveting. It is now the second largest economy in the world with a GDP of roughly USD 5.5 trillion. Its people, particularly the youth, seem focused on improving their living standards in the quest for a prosperous future, and politics does not define their everyday. China has begun to deal in the currency of global power, and its economic success is impacting its foreign, defence and security policies. The appellation of assertiveness is frequently applied to China’s profile in global affairs today. The question that I am always asked is whether our relationship with China will be one dominated by increasing competition for influence and for resources as our economic needs grow. I believe that neither of us has the luxury of seeing each other in antagonistic terms. The view that India and China are rivals to me is an over-generalization as well as over-simplification of a complex relationship which encompasses so many diverse issues. I believe the proposition of competition and rivalry should not be exaggerated in a manner that it overshadows our genuine attempts to manage and transact a rationally determined relationship between India and China.The reality is that India and China have worked hard over the last two decades to enhance dialogue in a number of fields and we must maintain and build on that trend.

6. It is true that divergences persist. There is no denying the fact that we have a disputed border. There are legacies as well as lessons bequeathed to us by history. This is a complex problem and the cartographies that define national identity are internalized in the minds of people in both countries. At the same time we are making a serious attempt at trying to arrive at a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question as the recent fourteenth round of the Special Representatives talks will testify. The absence of a solution to the question is not due to lack of efforts but arises from the difficulty of the question, as any analyst in the audience can well appreciate.

7. What also needs to be appreciated is that the India-China boundary is one of the most peaceful of all borders. We have in place a well organized set of measures or what we call confidence building measures or CBMs to ensure peace and tranquility on the border. We are currently talking to each other on establishing more such mechanisms. There is maturity on both sides to understand the complexity of the issue and to insulate it from affecting our broader relationship. This policy on both sides I think has paid dividends and has contributed towards reducing the possibility of conflict. The dividend from this policy can be seen in other areas of our relationship.

8. Another issue of concern is the management of trans-border rivers. Many of the rivers nourishing the plains of Northern India and also areas in North-east India arise in the highlands of the Tibetan Autonomous Region and are a source of livelihood and sustenance for millions of our people. We are alert to reports of China damming trans-border rivers and have sought assurances from China that it will take no action to negatively affect the flow of the rivers into India, and so that our rights as the lower riparian are not adversely affected. China has assured us that the projects on the Bramhaputra are run-of-the-river projects and are not meant for storing or diverting water. We look forward to working closely with China in this critical area of environmental and livelihood security.

9. There is then the question of the China-Pakistan relationship. India firmly believes that a stable and prosperous Pakistan is in India’s interest, and we are not against Pakistan’s relations with other countries. While I agree that relationships between countries are not zero-sum games, we do not hesitate to stress our genuine concerns regarding some aspects of the China-Pakistan relationship particularly when it comes to China’s role in POK, China’s J&K policy and the Sino-Pak security and nuclear relationship. The need for mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns cannot be denied. The issue of giving stapled visas to Indian nationals from the state of Jammu and Kashmir arises in a similar context. We believe that the India-China relationship will grow even stronger as China shows more sensitivity on core issues that impinge on our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope this can be realized.

10. Our trade with China is growing faster than that with any other country and China is our largest trading partner in goods with trade likely to exceed US$ 60 billion this year. There is also serious discussion between the two countries on correcting the trade imbalance and we would like to see more Indian goods and services entering the Chinese market. Many Chinese companies are now well established in India and many Indian companies are also opening up in China. We in India have also worked to resolve hurdles that have sometimes been faced by Chinese companies to ensure a level playing field for all foreign investors. We also expect similar access to Chinese markets especially in the area of pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering goods, where our companies have often faced non-tariff and opaque barriers. Our bilateral investment relationship is also steadily growing. India is one of China’s largest markets for project contracting. India needs an investment of US $ 1 trillion during the next Five-Year Plan period in infrastructure. China is well positioned to participate in this process.

11. The results of our policy of engagement are manifest in many areas and are not limited to bilateral trade and investment alone. Over 7,000 Indian students study in China, and the CBSE is set to introduce Chinese in the curriculum of schools from the next academic session. India and China cooperate in multilateral forums and on global issues. We have established a practice of regular leadership visits and meetings that has resulted in high level political understanding and impetus for the relationship. This now sets the stage for us to actively consider together the next steps in the evolution of our bilateral relations; evolve a detailed framework for the resolution of the boundary issue in a manner that is politically feasible for both countries; and, seize the opportunities for cooperation that the domestic transformations of our economies and the evolving global situation have opened up. There is also an information gap that keeps our peoples from understanding each other better and which we need to bridge by concerted public diplomacy from both sides. There is much work to be done to improve perceptions within the media in both countries. Larger numbers of tourists need to be encouraged as also students and teachers.

12. The global trend towards multi-polarity and a more even distribution of power has been accelerated by the recent global economic crisis. While the immediate financial aspects of the crisis may have been addressed, its structural causes in terms of global imbalances remain unsolved. This provides an opportunity to India and China to work together on global issues. Our participation and consultations within the G-20 have shown the way in this regard. Similarly, we have partnered well in BASIC (for the climate change negotiations), and in the BRIC grouping of Brazil, India, Russia and China. We hope such cooperation will also be strengthened on the important issue of UN Reform and that we will be able to build common ground on the issue relating to the expansion of the Security Council and India’s interest in permanent membership. The two countries share common positions and approaches on several major international issues of long-term significance such as the environment and climate change, energy security, food security, reform of the global financial institutions, etc. In the immediate region in which both countries are located, Asia, as well, there is common ground between India and China on combating terrorism and extremism, enhancing maritime security, and on the need for a peaceful environment to permit the domestic economic growth and development of the two countries. An open, balanced and inclusive architecture to enable a transparent dialogue on these issues that concern security and stability in Asia is in the interest of both our countries.

13. As India and China continue to pursue their interests, and so long as their overwhelming preoccupation remains their domestic transformation, and both understand that this goal requires a peaceful periphery, it is my firm conviction that the elements of competition in the bilateral relationship can be managed and the elements of congruence can be built upon. As our interests get progressively more complex, the costs of any withdrawal from engagement will rise. I believe this is a big relationship with the clear possibility of an ambitious agenda of mutual engagement that will be one of the most important bilateral equations of our new century.It is in our interest to view it in a more wide-angled and high definition manner than ever before.

New Delhi
December 3, 2010

(Source: http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530116760; accessed 12 December 2010) 

Sino-Indian Joint Press Communique

Sino-Indian Joint Press Communique 1988

（Beijing, 23 December 1988）

At the invitation of Premier Li Peng of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of the Republic of India made and official goodwill visit to the People's Republic of China from 19 to 23 December 1988. Accompanying His Excellency Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his visit to China were Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Narasimha Rao, Minister of External Affairs of India, Mr. Dinesh Singh, Minister of Commerce, Dr. B. Shankaranand, Minister of Law and Justice and Water Resources, Mr. K. Natwar Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, and other Indian officials.

Premier Li Peng and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi held talks in an atmosphere of friendship, candidness and mutual understanding. President Yang Shangkun of the People's Republic of China, General secretary Zhao Ziyang of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman Deng Xiaoping of the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee had separate meetings with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. During his visit, the two Governments signed the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology, the agreement Relating to Civil Air Transport, and the Executive Programme for the Years 1988, 1988 and 1990 under the Agreement for Cultural Cooperation. Both the Premier and the Prime Minister were present at the signing ceremony. The Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mrs. Gandhi and their party also toured historical sites and scenic spots in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.

During their talks and meetings, the leaders of the two countries had a wide exchange of views and ideas on bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interest. Both sides found such talks and meetings useful as they enhanced mutual understanding in the interest of further improvement and development of bilateral relations. The two sides made a positive appraisal of the cooperation and exchanges in recent years in trade, culture, science and technology, civil aviation and other fields, and expressed satisfaction with the relevant agreements reached between the two countries. They emphasized the vast scope that existed for learning from each other.

They emphasized that the Five Principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, which were jointly initiated by China and India and which have proved full of vitality through the test of history, constitute the basic guiding principles for good relations between states. These principles also constitute the basic guidelines for the establishment of a new international political order and the new international economic order. Both sides agreed that their common desire was to restore, improve and develop Sino-Indian good-neighborly and friendly relations on the basis of these principles. This not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but will actively contribute to peace and stability in Asia and the world as a whole. The two sides reaffirmed that they would make efforts to further their friendly relation.

The leaders of the two countries held earnest, indepth discussions on the Sino-Indian boundary question and agreed to settle this question through peaceful and friendly consultatations. They also agreed to develop their relations actively in other fields and work hard to create a favourable climate and conditions for a fair and reasonable settlement of the boundary question while seeking a mutually acceptable solution to this question. In this context, concrete steps will be taken, such as establishing a joint working group on the boundary question and a joint group on economic relations and trade and science and technology.

The Chinese side expressed concern over anti-China activities by some Tibetan elements in India. The Indian side reiterated the long-standing and consistent policy of the Government of India that Tibet is an autonomous region of China and that anti-China political activities by Tibetan elements are not permitted on Indian soil.

With regard to the international situation, the two sides held that in the present-day world, confrontation was giving way to dialogue and tension to relaxation. This is a trend resulting from long years of unswerving struggle by the peace-loving countries and people of the world against power politics. It is conducive to world peace and to the settlement of regional problems. It also facilitates the efforts of all countries, the developing countries in particular, to develop their national economies. China and India will make their own contributions to the maintenance of world peace, promotion of complete disarmament and attainment of common progress.

His Excellency Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and their party expressed heartfelt thanks to the Government and people of the People's Republic of China for the warm and friendly hospitality accorded them.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has invited Premier Li Peng to visit the Republic of India at his convenience. Premier Li Peng has accepted the invitation with pleasure. And the date of the visit will be decided upon through diplomatic channnels.  

(Source: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t15800.htm; accessed 6 Dec. 2010)

India-China Agreement in 1954 on Trade and Inter-Course

AGREEMENT BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

ON TRADE AND INTER-COURSE BETWEEN TIBET REGION OF CHINA AND INDIA

The Government of the Republic of India and the Central people’s Government of the People’s Republic of China:

Being desirous of promoting trade and cultural intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India and of facilitating pilgrimage and travel by the people of China and India;

Have resolved to enter into the present agreement based on the following principles:

(1) Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty;

(2) Mutual non-aggression;

(3) Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs;

(4) Equality and mutual benefit: and

(5) Peaceful coexistence

and for this purpose have appointed as their respective plenipotentiaries: 

 

The Government of the Republic of India:

H.E. Nedyam Raghavan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India accredited to the

People’s Republic of China,

The Central People’s Government of the

The People’s Republic of China:

H.E. Chang Han-Fu, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government, 

Who, having examined each other’s credentials and finding them in good and due form, have agreed upon the following: 

ARTICLE I

The High Contracting Parties mutually agree to establish trade agencies:

(I) The Government of India agree that the Government of China may establish trade agencies at New Delhi, Calcutta and Kalimpong.

(II) The Government of China agree that the Government of India may establish bade agencies at Yatung, Gyantse and Gartok.

The Trade Agencies of both parties shall be accorded the same status and same treatment. The Trade Agents of both parties shall enjoy freedom from arrest while exercising their functions, and shall enjoy in respect of themselves, their wives and children who are dependent on them for their livelihood freedom from search.

The Trade Agencies of both parties shall enjoy the privileges and immunities for couriers, mail bags and communications in code. 

ARTICLE II

The High Contracting Parties agree that traders of both countries known to be customarily and specifically engaged in trade between the Tibet region of China and India may trade at the following places:

(1) The Government of China agree to specify (1) Yatung, (2) Gyantse and (3) Phari as markets for trade: the Government of India agree that trade may be carried on in India including places like (1) Kalimpong, (2) Siliguri and (3) Calcutta, according to customary practice.

(2) The Government of China agree to specify (1) Gartok. (2) Pulanchung (Taklakot), (3) Gyalima-Khargo, (4) Gyanima-Chakra, (5) Ranura. (6) Dongbra, (7) Pulling-Sumdo (3) Nabra, (9) Shangtse and (10) Tashigong as markets for trade; the Government of India agree that in future when in accordance with the development and need of trade between the Art district of the Tibet region of China and India, it has become necessary to specify markets for trade in the corresponding districts in India adjacent to the Art district of the Tibet region of China, it will be prepared to consider on the basis of equality and reciprocity to do so. 

ARTICLE III

The High Contracting Parties agree that pilgrimages by religious believers of the two countries shall be carried on in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Pilgrims from India of Lamaist, Hindu and Buddhist faith may visit Kang Rimpoche (Kailash) and Mavam Tse (Mansarowar) in the Tibet region of China in accordance with custom.

(2) Pilgrims from the Tibet region of China of Lamaist and Buddhist faiths may visit Banaras, Sarnath, Gaya and Sanchi in India in accordance with custom.

(3) Pilgrims customarily visiting Lhasa may continue to do so in accordance with custom. 

ARTICLE IV

Traders and pilgrims of both countries may travel by the following passes and routes:

(1) Shipki La Pass

(2) Mana Pass

(3) Niti Pass

(4) Kungri Bingri Pass

(5) Dana Pass, and

(6) Lipu Lekh Pass.

Also the customary route leading to Tashigong along the valley of Elek Gatasangpu (Indus river) continue to be traversed in accordance with custom. 

ARTICLE V

For traveling across borers, the High Contracting Parties agree that diplomatic personnel, officials and nations of the two countries shall hold passports issued by their own respective countries and visas by the other party except as provided in paragraphs 1, 2. 3, and 4 of this article.

(1) Traders of both countries known to be customarily and specifically engaged in trade between the Tibet region of China and India, their wives and children, who are dependent on them for livelihood and their attendants will be allowed entry for purposes of trade into India or the Tibet region of China, as the case may be, in accordance with custom on the production of certificates duly issued by the local Government of their own country by its duly authorised agents and examined by the border check posts of the other party.

(2) Inhabitants of the border districts of the two countries, who cross borders to carry on petty trade or to visit friends and relatives, may proceed to the border districts of the other party as they have customarily done heretofore and need not be restricted to the passes and route specified in Article IV above and shall not be required to hold passports, visas or permits.

(3) Porters and mule-team drivers of the two countries who cross the border to perform necessary transportation services need not hold passports issued by their own country, but shall only hold certificates for a definite period of time (good for three months, half year or one year) duly issued by the local agents and produce them for registration at the border checkpost of the other party.

(4) Pilgrims of both countries need not carry documents of certification but shall register at the border checkpost of the other party and

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing paragraph of this article, either Government may refuse entry to any particular person.

(6) Persons who enter the territory of the other party in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs of this article may stay within its territory only after complying with the procedures specified by the other party. 

ARTICLE VI

The present agreement shall come into effect upon ratification by both Governments and shall remain in force for eight years. Extension of the present agreement may be negotiated by the two parties if either party requests for it six months prior to the expiry of the agreement and the request is agreed to by the other party.

Done in duplicate in Peking on April 29, 1954, in Hindi, Chinese and English languages, all text being equally valid.

Plenipotentiary of the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China - CHANG HAN-FU

Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Republic of India - N RAGHAVAN 

 

TEXT OF NOTES EXCHANGED

BETWEEN THE DELEGATIONS OF INDIA AND CHINA

 

Peking, April 29, 1954

Your Excellency, Mr. Vice-Foreign Minister,

In the course of our discussion regarding the agreement on trade and intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India, which has happily concluded on Thursday (April 29) the delegation of the Government of the Republic of India and the delegation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China agreed that certain matters be regulated by an exchange of notes. In pursuance of this understanding, it is hereby agreed between the two Governments as follows:

(1) The Government of India will be pleased to withdraw completely within six months from date of exchange of the present notes the military escort now stationed at Yatung and Gyantse in the Tibet region of China. The Government of China will render facilities and assistance in such withdrawal.

(2) The Government of India will be pleased to hand over to the Government of China at a reasonable price the post, telegraph and public telephone services together with their equipment operated by the Government of India in the Tibet region of China. The concrete measures in this regard will be decided upon through further negotiations between the Indian Embassy in China and the Foreign Ministry of China, which shall start immediately after the exchange of the present notes.

(3) The Government of India will be pleased to hand over to the Government of China at a reasonable price the twelve rest-houses of the Government of India in the Tibet region of China. The concrete measures in this regard will be decided upon through further negotiations between the Indian Embassy in China and the Foreign Ministry of China which will start immediately after the exchange of the present notes. The Government of China agree that they shall continue as rest-houses.

(4) The Government of China agree that all buildings within the compound wall of the Trade Agencies of the Government of India at Yatung and Gyantse in the Tibet region of China may be retained by the Government of India; and the Government of India may continue to lease the land within its agency compound wall from the Chinese side. And the Government of India agree that the Trade Agencies of the Government of China at Kalimpong and Calcutta may lease lands from the Indian side for the use of the Agencies and construct buildings thereon. The Government of China will render every possible assistance for housing the Indian Trade Agency at Gartok. The Government of India will also render every possible assistance for housing the Chinese Trade Agency at New Delhi.

(5) The Government of India will be pleased to return to the Government of China all land used or occupied by the Government of India other than the lands within its Trade Agency compound wall at Yatung.

If there are godowns and buildings of the Government of India on the above-mentioned land used or occupied and to be returned by the Government of India and if Indian traders have stores or godowns or buildings on the above-mentioned land so that there is a need to continue leasing land, the Government of China agree to sign a contract with the Government of India or Indian traders, as the case may be, for leasing to them those parts of the land occupied by the said godowns, buildings or stores and pertaining thereto.

(6) The Trade Agents of both parties may, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the local government, have access to their nationals involved in civil or criminal cases.

(7) The Trade Agents and traders of both countries may hire employees in the locality.

(8) The hospitals of the Indian Trade Agencies at Gyantse and Yatung will continue to serve personnel of the Indian Trade Agencies.

(9) Each Government shall protect the person and property of the traders and pilgrims of the other country.

(10) The Government of China agree, so far as possible, to construct rest-houses for use of pilgrims along the route from Pulanchung (Taklakot) to Kang Rimpoche (Kailash) and Mavam Tse (Manasarowar), and the Government of India agree to place all possible facilities in India at the disposal of pilgrims.

(11) Traders and pilgrims of both countries shall have the facilities of hiring means of transportation at normal and reasonable rates.

(12) The three Trade Agencies of each party may function throughout the year.

(13) Traders of each country may rent buildings and godowns in accordance with local regulations in places under the jurisdiction of the other party.

(14) Traders of both countries may carry on normal trade in accordance with local regulations at places as provided in Article II of the agreement.

(15) Disputes between traders of both countries over debts and claims shall be handled in accordance with local laws and regulations.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of India, I hereby agree that the present note, along with your reply, shall become an agreement between our two Governments which shall come into force upon the exchange of the present notes.

I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

N. Raghavan

Ambassador Extraordinary

and Plenipotentiary of the

Republic of India

29 April 1954

Peking, April 29, 1954

Your Excellency Mr Ambassador

I have the honour to receive your note dated April 29, 1954 which reads:

(text omitted - Editor)

On behalf of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, I hereby agree to Your Excellency’s note, and your note along with the present note in reply shall become an agreement between our two Governments, which shall come into force upon the exchange of the present notes. I avail myself of this opportunity to express to Your Excellency, Mr Ambassador, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 

Chang Han-Fu

Vice Minister

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

People’s Republic of China

29 April, 1954

(Source: Swaran Singh, Three Agreements and Five Principles Between India and China, http://ignca.nic.in/ks_41062.htm; accessed 8 December 2010)