The four-day visit will see him engaged in talks on a host of subjects that range from bilateral trade and climate change to boundary issue, Chinese ventures in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and ‘stapled’ visas to visitors from Jammu and Kashmir.
Krishna will hold talk with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi followed by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Officials said that the tone and tenor of the dialogue would be based on common perception with a view to take the relationship forward and ensure that the sentiment remained upbeat and positive.
This is his first bilateral visit to Beijing since he became the Foreign Minister in May 2009 and his first trip after relations came under strain last year over a host of issues including ‘intrusion’ by Chinese troops along the border and Beijing’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh.
The visit is a prelude to the visit of President Pratibha Patil to China later this year followed by Chinese leaders’ visit to India.
Besides attending a civic reception, Krishna will kick off six-month-long celebrations to mark the 60th year of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Ahead of the talks, Chinese officials have hinted that they would be pressing for a Free Trade Treaty which has been in the works for some time. On its part, India is keen to gain access to Chinese market for its IT, pharmaceuticals, engineering services and agro products. Delhi also wants imbalances in trade be removed.
At present trade turn over is a little over $ 50 bn with the first two months of the current year registering a 55 per cent jump in trade volumes. The target set for the year 2010 at $ 60 billion, therefore, appears with in reach.
Nearly 70 per cent of India’s exports to China are made of raw materials like iron ore. These are coming back as value added finished goods hurting India’s SME sector.
