PM seeks joint mechanism with China on Chinese dams on Brahmaputra
Notwithstanding
pledges to take the bilateral relationship to a new level, PM Manmohan
Singh in his first meeting with new Chinese President Xi Jinping has
sought a joint mechanism to assess the construction work on dams on
Brahmaputra river in Tibet.
"I
took the opportunity to raise the issue of trans-border river systems. I
requested the Chinese government to provide a joint mechanism to enable
us to assess the type of construction activity that is going on in the
Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR)," he told reporters accompanying him on
his return today from a four-day visit to Durban in South Africa.
He
was asked about the discussion on the water issue he had with Xi in
Durban last night on the margins of the BRICS summit in the first-high
level face-to-face contact between the two countries after the change of
power in China.
President
Xi assured him that China was quite conscious of their responsibilities
and the interest of the lower riparian countries, the Prime Minister
said.
As regards the specific mechanism that he had asked, the Chinese President told him that they would further look into it.
The
Prime Minister taking up the construction work in the Tibetan region
assumes signficance in the context of the Chinese proposal to build
three dams on Brahmaputra which has raised concerns in India.
Officials
have earlier talked about a joint mechanism but this may probably the
first time the Prime Minister has spoken about it and that too at the
highest level.
"But
as of now, our assessment is that whatever activity that is taking
place on the Brahmaputra region in Tibet, it is essentially a
run-of-the-river projects and therefore there is no cause of worry on
our part," Singh said.
On
his meeting with Xi, the Prime Minister said it was the first meeting
between them and both agreed that they would continue to maintain the
strong tradition of frequent high-level exchanges between the two
countries to strengthen the ties.
We
also agreed that high-level visits will be exchanged this year between
India and China. I look forward to the opportunity of an early meeting
with the Premier of China as well," he said.
Asked
about his assessment of the new Chinese leadership, Singh said even
before the formal meeting yesterday he had had "productive exchange" of
views with Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
He
said both of them agreed to continue the exchanges that the type of
intimate exchanges that used to take place when President Hu Jintao and
Premier Wen Jiabao were holding their positions. "Both of us agreed that
we should aim to maintain similar relationship under the new leadership
of China."
He
said the two leaders last night reviewed the entire gamut of the
bilateral relations and discussed the opportunities for exchange of
views in cooperation and coordination in regional and international
fore.
Asked
about five proposals made by President Xi last week to strengthen
bilateral ties with India, Singh said this was his first meeting and
both of them were keen to get acquainted.
"While
we reviewed a whole gamut of relationship, we didn't get to specifics. I
got a distinct impression that the new Chinese leadership is serious as
the former leadership to promote good neibhourly relations and to find
practical and pragmatic solutions to outstanding issues between our two
countries," he said.
Naresh, OFA is counting on you.
