By IRNA
New Delhi : China has dismissed reports of being harsh on Indian Ambassador who was summoned past midnight in Beijing on the Tibet issue and said the envoy has been treated “very respectfully”.
“I can responsibly say that what has been reported on this matter is not correct. We have treated Indian ambassador, Nirupama Rao very respectably and we have a very good working relationship with Indian Embassy in Beijing,” Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan said here, PTI reported.
“I can assure that nothing as depicted in the media has happened,” he told reporters Thursday at the heavily fortified embassy following recent storming of the pro-independence protests by Tibetans.
“We don’t think it is a big issue. It is a very very minor issue.
I don’t think it will affect our relationship. On the contrary, both sides, that is my feeling, don’t see anything wrong. In future, the timing should be considered.”
Though New Delhi has been silent on its envoy being summoned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry at an odd hour, government circles feel this could have been avoided.
Meanwhile, according to reports received, India’s junior Foreign Minister Anand Sharma on Thursday assured Beijing of smooth and safe Olympics torch relay in India.
“The Government of India has a clear commitment and in the spirit of Olympics, we will guarantee the security of the torch,” said Sharma while talking to reporters.
The torch will reach national capital New Delhi on April 17 after a 130-day relay.
India, which hosts Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile, has seen a wave of protests since China`s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Tibet in March.
The India’s football captain, Bhaichung Bhutia, a Buddhist, has already refused to carry the Olympic torch in protest against China`s actions to suppress unrest in Tibet.
But Bollywood superstar Amir Khan remained committed to participating in the event despite receiving several requests to boycott the Olympic torch relay, as he wanted to keep the Beijing Olympics separate from the issue of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, the Olympics torch has already made its first stop over at Kazakhstan`s biggest city, Almaty, amidst tight security, its first official stop in the international leg.
The flame`s next stop over is Istanbul.
It is due to return to Beijing on August 6.