Chinese Premier appreciates India's steps over Tibetan protests

New Delhi, Mar 18 : Terming Tibet as a ''very sensitive issue'' in Sino-India bilateral relations, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday appreciated New Delhi's action against Tibetan pro-independence protests.

''The Tibetan issue is a very sensitive one in our relations with India. We appreciate the position and the steps taken by the Indian government in handling Tibetan independence activities masterminded by the Dalai clique'', Jiabao told a press conference in Beijing.

Wen said that he enjoyed ''broad agreement'' with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the Tibet issue during Singh's Beijing visit in January.

"I hope the Indian Government can follow the agreements reached between the two countries and handle this issue in a correct way," Jiabao said while addressing reporters for the first time after assuming his office for a 'second five-year term'.

India, in a delicate balancing act, had expressed "distress over the unsettled situation" in Tibet and hoped that the "causes" for it would be resolved through dialogue.

The Indian Government also asked Tibetans to refrain from indulging in activities that spoil India's relations with ''friendly'' countries, adding that New Delhi ''does not permit Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India'.

ANI