India, China will establish hotline link for their prime ministers
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, April 07, 2010
India-China will establish direct hotline link
In a big confidence building measure, Asia's two largest countries - India and China have agreed to establish a direct hotline link between their Prime Ministers' office. Both the countries have signed an agreement in this regard during India's external affairs minister SM Krishna's visit to China.
The agreement was signed by external effairs minister SM Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi after their first round of talks in Beijing.
This is the first time in recent years that India has agreed to establish a dedicated hotline facility with any neighbouring country. The dedicated phone lines will be set up in the Prime Minister's office of the two countries.
The hotline would enable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao to hold direct conversations whenever they want.
After the over an hour-long meeting, Indian leader said that the establishment of hotline facility showed how close both countries were to each other.
Mr. Krishna said, "This has been one of the highlights of my visit and it is fitting that the two countries were able to do it during the celebrations of 60th year of establishment of diplomatic relations."
In response to a question regarding the issuance of stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, he said: "All issues concerning bilateral ties were discussed."
The two countries have issued picture albums and envelopes to commemorate the 60 years' of bilateral relations.
