Modi raises concern over PLA's presence in PoK with China

Beijing, No 10: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held candid talks with Chinese leaders, specially on contentious issues like presence of PLA troops in POK, terrorist training camps in Pakistan and prolonged detention of 22 diamond merchants from Gujarat on charges of smuggling.

Briefing the media here about his talks with Wang Gang, vice chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Modi said he raised concerns over reports of presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as well as terrorist training camps which has security implications for Gujarat which is a border state with Pakistan.

In his interaction with Wang, who is also a member of the politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China, Modi said he highlighted the issue of presence of Chinese personnel in POK, which has security implications for India besides the training camps being run by Pakistan in PoK.

China has stated in the past that its People's Liberation Army personnel were in PoK to provide humanitarian relief to the areas affected by floods.

The Chief Minister, who is on a five-day visit to China, said he also raised the circulation of controversial Indian maps, minus some parts of Kashmir and Arunachal which was distributed by a state-owned Chinese company TBEA at a business function in New Delhi.

Modi also raised the issue of the detention of 22 Gujarati diamond merchants from Surat who were arrested in the Chinese city of Shenzhen about two years ago.

On the economic front, Modi said Chinese leader Wang expressed keen interest in the development projects in Gujarat and he expects China to establish special relationship with his state after Japan and Canada.

The BJP leader said he had also raised the issue of establishing a sports university in Gujarat in collaboration with China.

Cheng Fengxiang, Vice Minister International Department of Communist Party of China, hosted a welcome banquet in honour of the Chief Minister. He also held a meeting with Modi alongwith the members of his delegation.

S. Jaishankar, the Indian Ambassador to China, accompanied Modi in his meetings with the Chinese leaders.

Earlier in the day, Modi made a strong pitch for Chinese investments, asserting that his state, which is the "growth engine" of India with the best infrastructure, offers excellent returns for foreign investments.

Modi, who is on his fourth visit here, struck an emotional chord while addressing a well-attended China-India business get-together, stating that he found "abundant love and affection" during his trips to China, whose people have a special place in his heart.

"China and its people have a special place in my heart. I admire their hard working, disciplined and resilient nature and above all, their sense of history. Our cultural bonds are very strong and deep-rooted. Over the years, our relations have further strengthened. We are committed to making them still better, fruitful and productive," Modi said.

"I have seen growing interest among Chinese companies to work in Gujarat. We wholeheartedly welcome them. My personal visit is to reinforce that process," he said.

Later, Modi and his delegation held talks with the Ai Ping, Vice Minister of International Department of the ruling Communist Party of China, (CPC) which invited him to the country.

Besides Beijing, Modi would visit Shanghai and Chandu where he will address a business get-together.

PTI