Indo-China "consensus" likely?

New Delhi, Dec 16: The Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao's visit has opened new avenues of cooperation with India in trade and business. Though there are grounds for contention among both countries, Jiaboa's visit can be considered an effort to smoothen the strained Indo-China relationship.

With a total of 6-7 pacts signed and deals worth 16 billion dollars already agreed upon, Wen's visit will also broach touchy topics that need to be addressed on top priority. This is when news broke out on Thursday that Chinese engineers have finished building a tunnel connecting Tibet to China in disputed areas of Arunachal Pradesh and plans are underway to build a dam in the Brahmaputra.

Visiting premier said that important strategic consensus would be arrived at, he said, before formal talks resumed with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Wen Jiabao added, "I am confident of India-China ties. We will be able to reach strategic consensus. I have come to India to expand cooperation, deepen friendship and strengthen people to people exchange".

Other contentious issues like the stapled visas for Kashmiris, Chinese presence in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and also the boundary issue in Arunachal Pradesh is likely to come up in the discussion.

Also in the agenda is China's non-support for India's permanent presence in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

A joint statement by both leaders is expected later in the day.

OneIndia News