N-deal: Left wants China kept in the loop

Notwithstanding Beijing8217;s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, CPIM wants New Delhi to keep China in the loop, given its capacity as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the UNSC.

Notwithstanding Beijing8217;s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, CPIM wants New Delhi to keep China in the loop, given its capacity as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the UNSC. The party has told the government that it will help, at a non-official level, in creating an 8220;atmosphere of good neighbourly relations8221; through party-to-party contacts.

The CPIM has of late openly aired its differences with the UPA government on the entry of Chinese companies in India. It is an advocate of a 8220;level playing field8221; when it comes to FDI in Indian infrastructure projects, arguing India and China have already agreed to bid for oil contracts jointly. Hence, security concerns should not bar Chinese companies from bidding for key projects.

CPIM politburo member Sitaram Yechury, in China with a five member party delegation that includes Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, will take up these issues in his meetings with Chinese leaders. On his itinerary are meetings with standing committee members of the CPC. He will also launch the Chinese edition of President APJ Abdul Kalam8217;s Guiding Souls 8211; Dialogues on the Purpose of Life, co-written by Arun K Tiwari.

The CPIM politburo member had been briefed on the outstanding issues with China by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon when the two met on October 7 at the CPIM headquarters in the Capital. The boundary issue was discussed at the meeting.

8220;Apart from belonging to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, China is a P-5 country. It is in India8217;s interests that our relations with China is strengthened,8221; Yechury said.

That would also mean becoming more active in the global environment. Along with China, India is a member of a trilateral grouping with Russia, which the Left has said should be strengthened and so should the bigger grouping BRICS G Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and Germany on shaping economic economic growth and sustainable development.

However, there is little hope of a more speedy resolution of the boundary dispute between India and China even though there are expectations that the Indian side will bring back important feedback from the Chinese on the issue when they return a week later. Chinese interlocutors have told Left leaders that there cannot be quick solutions to it, pointing out that the border issue between China and Russia took more than 40 years to settle.

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8220;Negotiations between the two countries on the boundary question may continue. But in the meantime, we are keen that relations must develop,8221; Yechury said.