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| Anti-satellite test is not directed |
| External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing at Hyderabad House in New Delhi
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| INDIA
, 14-February-2007
2:36:14 AM |
| Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday that Beijing's January 11 anti-satellite test (ASAT) was not directed against any country.
Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao told presspersons that in a "suo motu briefing" Mr. Li informed Mr. Mukherjee at Hyderabad House here that ASAT was a technological and scientific endeavour.
Ms. Rao quoted the Chinese Minister as saying that Beijing remained opposed to militarisation of outer space. Mr. Mukherjee, too, reiterated India's opposition to it.
The Ambassador said that the "hotline" between the Foreign Ministers was now in place. The countries were expected to open their new consulates at Guangzhou and Kolkata before the year-end.
According to External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna, the discussions lasted about two-and-a-half hours, of which 45 minutes were spent in a "restricted" form of dialogue between Mr. Mukherjee and Mr. Li.
Making a "positive assessment" of the current state of bilateral relations, the Ministers "noted with satisfaction" the progress made in resolving the boundary question. They reiterated their leaders' directive to the Special Representatives to "further intensify" efforts to arrive at a solution.
Expressing satisfaction at the two-way trade touching $25 billion in 2006, the Ministers hoped that the joint task force, set up to conduct a feasibility study on a possible regional trading arrangement would complete its work by October.
The two sides were also working out a calendar of meetings for the multi-faceted discussion mechanisms now in place: a strategic dialogue, a Joint Working Group on the border issue, a security dialogue and a counter-terrorism forum.
Ms. Rao said the Indian side informed the Chinese delegation that it was ready with its list of experts to operationalise the transborder rivers mechanism that was agreed upon during the visit of President Hu Jintao in November 2006.
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