Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in China from October 22, 2013, to October 24, 2013, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arranged a banquet dinner for the Indian prime minister. 

 

This act signifies the importance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China. It is true that India and China have had their share of differences over the years. But that does not mean that hostility is growing between the two countries.

 

Every country aims to achieve peace and cordial relations with other nations, and this is exactly what China and India hoped to achieve when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set foot in China.

 

Reports indicate that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China has been fruitful. During the meeting with Chinese leaders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh realised that China is as keen as India in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border. 

 

Leaders of both the countries came to a conclusion that for their bilateral relationship to progress, it is important to resolve all security related issues. After a long discussion between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, both the countries signed nine pacts, including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement to solve existing border problems. The agreement is a reaffirmation that both sides will not use military capabilities against each other. 

 

One of the reasons why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China, apart from boosting bilateral ties, is to get to know the new Chinese leaders, who had been elected earlier this year. 

 

The first step to building good relations with a country is to understand the leaders of that country and their leadership style. And this is exactly what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had planned for his recent visit to China. 

 

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for saving the lives of 17 sailors from a cargo ship, which sank during Cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal.

 

In addition, both the leaders signed an agreement to share information on trans-border rivers. As per the agreement, China is required to release hydrological data on the Brahmaputra River to India for 15 more days. 

 

During the discussion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh picked up the issue of stapled visas issued by China to residents of some Indian states, over which Beijing has laid its claims to. 

 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh threw light on two Indian archers from Arunachal Pradesh, who were given stapled visas instead of visas on their passports. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the Chinese government to simplify the immigration procedures for Indians entering China as India is committed to doing the same for Chinese nationals entering India. 

 

Although no agreement was signed on this matter, both the countries expressed hope that immigration laws for the nationals of both the countries will be simplified in future.

 

Overall, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China was fruitful and this was a great opportunity for leaders of both the countries to know one another better and strive for an enhanced bilateral relationship.