By MANOJ JOSHI
SHANGHAI, June 27 – Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has allayed fears that “new difficulties” would arise with the beginning of border trade with Tibet through Sikkim. These fears he said were “baseless” and his expectation was that there would be a big growth in trade on the border.
Speaking at an end-of-the-visit press conference here on Friday morning, Vajpayee clarified that the decisions taken by the two countries on Sikkim’s status “were taking us in the right direction,” noting that the Indian aim viz the formal Chinese acceptance of Sikkim as a part of India would take place soon.
Vajpayee set aside his prepared remarks and made his opening remarks extempore in Hindi.
On the issue of Tibet being described as an “autonomous region of China” , Vajpayee maintained nothing was conceded in the new formulation. “What we said is what we have been saying for years, the only thing that has happened is that it has been repeated with clarity.”
In response to a question, the Prime Minister said that Indian authorities have been in constant touch with our “Tibetan friends” before and through the period of his talks with Chinese leaders. “They are satisfied with our position,” the PM clarified, adding, “We have received no complaints from them.”
The Prime Minister said that the Sino-Indian border issue had been addressed in a detail that had never been done before and what had emerged was not just a discussion but a roadmap of steps to be taken to resolve the issue. The appointment of the new special representatives by both sides would help thrash out the issues and “find the way ahead.”
Vajpayee said he had achieved what he had set out for in this visit which was to strengthening Sino-Indian relations and generating mutual trust. He said that the discussions which gave him an opportunity to meet the new Chinese leadership, have enabled the two countries to take steps in the same direction. “Rasta lamba hai, lekin achha aarambh ho gaya hai.” (The road is long, but the beginning has been good).
Asked whether India could cooperate with China and emulate its economic progress, the Prime Minister said that there will be competition and cooperation. He said it was widely accepted that in some areas India was as developed as China, there were some problems that needed to be removed.
These could be removed “if we get another five years in government,” he quipped.
