PM Modi will Visit China in May, Says Sushma Swaraj in Beijing

New Delhi/Beijing: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China in May this year. This was conveyed to the Chinese leadership by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in Beijing for the Russia-India-China trilateral meeting on Monday.

Ms Swaraj's visit is a crucial one, with New Delhi seeking to allay Chinese concerns over a joint statement between India and the US during President Obama's visit last week. China had reacted angrily to the India-US statement last week hinting that they won't make it easy for India to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

In a speech to the India-China media forum earlier today, Ms Swaraj suggested a new six-point template to build ties which include action oriented approach, broad base bilateral engagement, convergence of common, regional and global interests, develop new areas of cooperation, expand strategic communication and fulfill common aspirations to usher in an "Asian century".

Ms Swaraj also talked about PM Modi's engagement with the Chinese leadership since taking office, saying the new momentum in ties would be accelerated.

"We will make it easier for Chinese companies to do business in India and expect that similar encouragement would be given to our companies to expand their business in China," the Foreign Minister said.

On the defence relations between the two countries, Ms Swaraj said, "We have made considerable progress in establishing and expanding defence contacts and exchanges including across our border."

"They contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity there, a pre-requisite for the further development of our relationship. On the boundary question, my government is committed to expanding an early settlement," she said.

Stating that the ties have grown beyond bilateral dimension, Ms Swaraj said the two countries now are parts of multilateral bodies like BRICS and BASIC (a regional bloc of Brazil, South Africa, India and China).

Given Mr Modi's convergence with the US on China, and his out reach to Japan, Beijing is clearly taking serious note. In a departure from protocol, the Foreign Minister will be meeting the Chinese President Xi Xinping on Monday.