Dual visa issue on Krishna’s China agenda

India is hoping that External Affairs Minister S.M, Krishna’s four-day visit to China, beginning Monday, will help build on the positives aspects of the relations between the two countries.

India is hoping that External Affairs Minister SM Krishna’s four-day visit to China, beginning Monday, will help build on the positives aspects of the relations between the two countries.

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Ahead of the visit, New Delhi on Saturday asked China to stop issuing stapled visas to Indians from Jammu and Kashmir, hoping that Beijing will be sensitive to its “core concern”.

The other contentious issues to come up during the visit include China funding projects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India terms “illegal”, and the boundary issue.

"We have asked the Chinese side to do away with dual visa policy," Gautam Bambawale, joint secretary in charge East Asia in the ministry, said.

"This is a matter of core concern for India because it goes to the heart of our territorial sovereignty and integrity. We will continue to press them on this issue," he added.

"We expect that this important concern of ours is taken on board," said Vishnu Prakash, external affairs ministry spokesperson. The issue will figure during Krishna's talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing next week.