Beijing tour to gauge n-deal mood

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon left for Beijing on Sunday on a two-day visit to test waters for China’s support to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). According to the official brief, the secretary will hold discussions “on India-China bilateral relations as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest”, but gauging Beijing’s position towards the deal at the NSG will also be high on Menon’s agenda.

Facing a scathing attack from the Left for “aligning” with the US, New Delhi is keen to rope in China’s support on the matter. However, Beijing is still ambivalent on its position towards the Indo-US agreement and equates New Delhi with Islamabad when it comes to changing international rules for atomic trade.

As reported by The Sunday Express, the UPA Government has been working hard to show progress in ties with China to reassure the Left. New Delhi has also stepped up engagement with its neighbour to convey that India is not part of any quadrilateral alliance to “contain” China.

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Menon’s visit is likely to be followed by the next round of boundary talks between Special Representatives, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice-Minister Dai Bingguo, later this month. Menon also heads the joint working group on clarifying positions along the Line of Actual Control.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also likely to visit China next month ahead of PM’s Beijing visit at the end of this year.