By IANS
New Delhi : Amid conflicting signals from China on the India-US civil nuclear deal, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon goes to Beijing on a two-day visit Monday.
“During the visit, the foreign secretary will have discussions on India-China bilateral relations as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the external affairs ministry said here Sunday while announcing Menon’s visit.
The timing of his visit is significant as the Left parties have accused the government of “aligning” with the US, and Beijing has not hidden its anxiety about a quadrilateral dialogue forum comprising India, US, Japan and Australia that it fears is directed against it.
India is keen to dispel Beijing’s apprehensions that its growing relationship with the US and its participation in the quadrilateral dialogue is directed against China. The ruling coalition United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to visit China next month. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also make a visit later this year.
Menon will discuss a swathe of bilateral and regional issues, including the boundary dispute and the India-US civil nuclear deal. He will try to seek the support of Beijing, an influential member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, in the 45-nation grouping that operates by consensus.
Beijing has been critical of the India-US nuclear deal and wants a similar arrangement for long-time ally Pakistan. It has not so far taken an official position on supporting India in the NSG.
Keen China watchers say despite disapproving noises, Beijing may not go to the extent of blocking the India nuclear deal and risk alienating another rising Asian power.
The dates for the next round of boundary talks, likely Sep 23-24, which will be hosted by China, may also be firmed up during Menon’s visit.
Early this year, special representatives – National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo – held talks on the decades-old boundary dispute in India.