SMK in China to prepare for Hu's visit to India

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will leave for Beijing on Tuesday on a three-day visit, which will prepare ground for the trip of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India towards the end of next month.

Krishna will extend invitation to Hu on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  to visit New Delhi for the fourth BRICS Summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to be held here on March 29. The minister’s visit, in continuation of high-level exchanges between the two countries that were resumed after a short break last month with special representatives’ talks on boundary issue here, will also see him inaugurate a new chancery building of the Indian embassy in Beijing.

Krishna will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi . The ministers would discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues during their meeting. Bilateral trade, global financial crisis, maritime security and the issue of the import of oil from Iran in the wake of the US sanctions, may likely to figure prominently in the talks between the two leaders, a government official said.

During the two-day boundary talks of special representatives, the two countries sealed a new border mechanism framework to maintain peace on the disputed boundaries between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who arrived here on Monday  on an official visit, will meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
The two countries will hold discussions on ramping up cooperation in the field of economy and security besides inking a number of agreements. “India has occupied a significant and important place in foreign policy activities of Mauritius,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.