Wen Jiabao says China serious about India?s concerns over stapled visas

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday said that Beijing has taken serious note of India?s concerns over issue of stapled visas by China to Jammu and Kashmir residents.

The issue of border disputes also figured during talks between Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, with both sides deciding to maintain status quo in the disputes.

Raising the issue of stapled visas himself, Jiabao said his country takes India?s concern on the matter seriously, India?s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said, briefing reporters at the end of bilateral talks between Jiabao and Singh.

The Chinese leader asked officials to have in depth consultation on the issue, Rao added.

She also informed that the hotline between leaders of India and China has been operationalised.

China has been issuing stapled visas to Jammu and Kashmir residents, thereby indirectly questioning the Himalayan state?s legal merger with the Indian Union.

The boundary disputes also figured in the talks between the two leaders, which lasted for over one hour.

Both India and China reiterated their ?firm commitment? to resolving outstanding differences including the boundary question at an early date through peaceful negotiations.

?They reiterated that resolution of the boundary question is one of the ten-pronged strategies agreed by leaders of the two countries.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the Boundary Question agreed in 2005 and the process of negotiations being undertaken by the Special Representatives and resolved to actively seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution from the political and strategic perspective,? said a joint communiqu? issued by Singh and Jiabao at the end of the talks.

?Pending the resolution of the boundary question, the two sides shall work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas in line with the previous agreements,? said the statement.

India and China agreed to intensify their dialogue on various aspects pertaining to this region and work together on realizing their common goals.

Jiabao and Singh noted the good cooperation between China and India in the field of trans-border rivers.

?The Indian side appreciated the flood-season hydrological data and the assistance in emergency management provided by the Chinese side. The two sides reiterated that they will promote and enhance cooperation in this field,? said the statement.

Jiabao is on a state visit to India from December 15-17 at the invitation of Singh.