Date:28/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/28/stories/2004052807940300.htm

New Delhi

Chinese Foreign Minister calls up Natwar

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 27. India and China exchanged views on the draft United Nations Security Council resolution on the handing over of "sovereignty" in Iraq. The issue came up for discussion when the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, telephoned the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, to congratulate him.

"The two Foreign Ministers agreed to closely work together to further strengthen bilateral relations between India and China. They expressed mutual agreement on the relevance of Panchsheel today and noted that the 50th anniversay of Panchsheel and related commemorative activities offered a good opportunity for enhancing cooperation," a press release on the conversation said.

According to the statement, the boundary question, the Joint Study Group on economic cooperation and the Ministerial-level Joint Economic Group figured in the conversation.

"The Chinese Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for the positive remarks made by [the] External Affairs Minister regarding India-China relations. He thanked the Government of India for support on international issues. He also invited [the] External Affairs Minister to attend the ACD [Asia Cooperation Dialogue] Foreign Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, on June 21-22, 2004."

The conversation, friendly and personal in tone and content, lasted for about 15 minutes.

The King of Nepal, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazzi, and the Foreign Minister of Oman, Yusuf Bin Ahmad Alawi, also called up the External Affairs Minister.