Foreign secy to bring up Azhar issue during his china visit

Gokhale will have a series of meetings on April 22, including with vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou, and state councillor Wang Yi.

India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale will hold talks with top Chinese officials, including foreign minister Wang Yi, next week on key issues such as coordinating the positions of the two sides at international forums and the listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar.

Indian officials sought to play down the significance of the timing of the visit, saying it had been scheduled some time back. (Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)

Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity described Gokhale’s two-day visit to Beijing beginning on Sunday as part of regular diplomatic consultations. However, he is visiting days ahead of the second Belt and Road Forum, which India will skip because of concerns over territorial sovereignty related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Gokhale will have a series of meetings on April 22, including with vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou, and state councillor Wang Yi.

Indian officials sought to play down the significance of the timing of the visit, saying it had been scheduled some time back.