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Chinese vice foreign minister holds talks with Natwar

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei with External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in New Delhi

     New Delhi: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei today met India's External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in the Capital today. During the meeting the two sides discussed strategic issues like the US-led war on terrorism and the will to expand on a steady improvement in ties. The talks between the world's most populous countries are expected to touch on Iraq and tensions between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme.

     India and China are trying to resolve decades-old border and territorial disputes, considered central to forging better ties. Differences also linger over nuclear proliferation in the region, with New Delhi expressing alarm over what it says are Chinese missile transfers to its neighbouring rival Pakistan. Both Islamabad and Beijing deny the charge. Foreign policy analysts said India and China were signalling a willingness to enhance engagement, while continuing to tackle contentious issues such as the border row and nuclear weapons. India and China, among the world's biggest consumers of oil, also plan to discuss ways to exploit the energy resources of Central Asia, the Indian Express newspaper said. The talks are also aimed at laying the ground for Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit, sometime in March.