India-China bilateral issues not to hamper lending plan: ADB

"This (bilateral issue between India and China) has no bearing on our programme," ADB spokesperson Omana Nair said in an e-mail, adding the lending agency had never encountered a similar situation in the past.

"ADB has not encountered any similar situation in the past," she said, when asked whether ADB has faced instances of bilateral issues hampering its lending operations.

Peeved by the inclusion of a project in Arunachal Pradesh in ADB's India Country Partnership Strategy (2009-12), China sought postponement of the board meeting which was to be held in March.

China, which considers Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed territory, wanted the project to be removed from the lending programme of the ADB.

Under the ADB rules, Nair said, "it is a standard procedure to grant a Board member's request for deferral of an item up for Board discussion without requiring a specific reason".

Without specifying the new date for the board meeting, she said, "The Board discussion for the India Country Partnership Strategy (2009-2012) has been postponed to a later date."

As per the charter of the multilateral lending agency, she added, "ADB does not interfere in the political affairs of any member."