E-Paper
Someone is suspicious of my China visit, says Vajpayee
AB Vajpayee, however, clarified on Tuesday that growing Sino-Indian ties were not against any country.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday said the growing Sino-Indian ties were not against any third country.
However, without naming Pakistan, Vajpayee said "someone is suspicious of my China visit". He was speaking at a banquet hosted by Indian Ambassador to China Shivshankar Menon.
"The India-China friendship is not against any third country. This friendship is complete in itself," added Vajpayee.
Vajpayee, on a six-day visit to China, concluded his talks with top Chinese leadership.
The two countries have signed a historic declaration on principles for relations and comprehensive cooperation and a memorandum on expanding border trade during Vajpayee's visit.
The two documents are being described a major breakthrough as they commit the two countries to promote the development of friendly relations while addressing their problems simultaneously.
The relations between India and China, which fought a savage war in 1962, have improved significantly in recent years.
The bilateral trade between the two countries, which stands at $5 billion, is likely to touch the $10 billion mark by 2005.
Vajpayee said India wanted friendly relations with all its neighbours.
While complimenting the Indian Ambassador to China, Shivshankar Menon, Vajpayee said his new job will require more hard work. Menon will soon take over as Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan after India and Pakistan decided to resume diplomatic ties, snapped after an attack on parliament by terrorists late in December 2001.
"Our ambassador is leaving China. He has done a very good job here. But we are now sending him to a place where he will get more opportunities to work better. We want friendship with all our neighbours," said Vajpayee evoking laughter.
There has been a thaw in relations between India and Pakistan after Vajpayee extended a hand of friendship to Islamabad in April and offered talks.
