India, China to discuss bilateral and regional issues

India and China will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues when Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon will meet Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs He Yafei in the city today.

Beijing: India and China will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues when Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon will meet Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs He Yafei in the city today.

Menon, the senior most Indian diplomat to visit China after the Tibet unrest broke out in mid March, is expected to finalise the dates for planned visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Beijing, official sources said.

Menon may also meet Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, sources said. Menon's visit also coincides with the successful and smooth Beijing Olympic torch relay in India, over which China had concerns after it was marred by protests from Tibetans and human rights activists in London, Paris and San Francisco.

The Foreign Ministry has already appreciated the 'great efforts' by the Indian government for the torch's smooth run. Menon arrived in the city on Monday to attend a meeting of G-8 'outreach countries' to discuss their approach at the upcoming annual summit of the grouping in Japan in July. (PTI)

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