China and India have agreed to set up a top level hotline during a Beijing visit by India's foreign minister, who also discussed terrorism and regional security with his Chinese counterpart. Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna began his four-day visit on Monday - scant months after tempers flared over reports of border incursions and a row over the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh.
But Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters the trip had gone well, and both sides were pleased with the new mechanism connecting the Chinese and Indian Prime Ministers, which could help prevent dangerous flare-ups in future. "These have been cordial, useful, constructive and wide-ranging discussions," she told a news conference in Beijing.
"The agreement to establish a hotline is an important confidence building measure and it opens up a direct channel of communication between the two leaders." Plans for a hotline were made by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a summit last year of the BRIC group of nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China, Rao said. The group is due to meet again next week in Brasilia.
During Krishna's meeting with Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, regional security - particularly in volatile Afghanistan - and the threat of terrorism were among key issues discussed. "Foreign Minister Yang said that both China and India should stay in touch on these issues and remain in regular contact... particularly on Afghanistan," said Rao, a former Indian ambassador to Beijing.
Krishna was visiting just a couple of weeks after Afghan President Hamid Karzai came to Beijing to ask China to use its diplomatic clout with neighbouring Pakistan to help rein in a growing insurgency. His government has good ties with Delhi. Rao said the trip had also underlined the importance of co-operation on a wider range of international issues.
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