Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING1773
2006-01-27 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

CHINA/INDIA: INDIAN EMBASSY READOUT ON FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL CH IN NP IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3958
OO RUEHCN
DE RUEHBJ #1773/01 0270850
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270850Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6694
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6285
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 3688
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4003
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0772
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001773 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016
TAGS: PREL CH IN NP IR
SUBJECT: CHINA/INDIA: INDIAN EMBASSY READOUT ON FOREIGN
SECRETARY SARAN'S VISIT FOCUSES ON DIFFERENCES ON IRAN AND


SIPDIS
NEPAL

Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor
Robert Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001773

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016
TAGS: PREL CH IN NP IR
SUBJECT: CHINA/INDIA: INDIAN EMBASSY READOUT ON FOREIGN
SECRETARY SARAN'S VISIT FOCUSES ON DIFFERENCES ON IRAN AND


SIPDIS
NEPAL

Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor
Robert Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) India and China maintain different positions on
Iran and Nepal, according to Indian Embassy Deputy
Chief of Mission Vinay Kwatra. Providing a readout on
Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran's January 9-11
visit to Beijing and in follow-on discussion, Kwatra
noted India's continued opposition to Iranian uranium
enrichment and contrasted this with "Beijing's
preference for indefinite negotiations." China cited
nonintervention when discussing Nepal, while Saran
highlighted India's support for the revival of Nepal's
political parties alongside the monarchy. India will
host the next phase of border demarcation talks in the
first quarter of 2006. India views its civilian
nuclear power accord with the United States as a
strictly bilateral issue. India, China and Russia are
developing a trilateral mechanism for consultations
among their foreign ministers. End Summary.

India and China: Strategic Dialogue Partners
--------------


2. (C) Indian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Vinay
Kwatra briefed Acting Polmincouns and Poloff January
25 on the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam
Saran to Beijing, January 9-11. In this second annual
China-India Strategic Dialogue, Saran held meetings
with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo
and Vice Foreign Minister for Asia Wu Dawei. The two
sides discussed the full range of bilateral, regional
and global issues facing the two countries. The first
India-China strategic dialogue in New Delhi in January
2005, Kwatra noted, was dominated by planning for
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's April 2005 visit. This
year's talks focused on substantive issues.

China-India Differences on Iran
--------------


3. (C) Indian and Chinese positions on Iran are "not
the same," Kwatra stated. India has made clear its
position against continued uranium enrichment research
by Iran. The Chinese emphasized the importance of

seeking a diplomatic solution, he said.


4. (C) Kwatra said he previously served as Deputy
Director General for Iran and Afghanistan and is
familiar with the Iranian situation. India and Iran
have several consultative mechanisms, including annual
Foreign Minister-level talks. Kwatra said that he is
unsure whether bilateral National Security Advisor
talks that were held in the past continue, commenting
that though India explained the impracticality of
Iran's approach, these meetings were essentially an
exchange of positions.

Differences on Nepal's Internal Situation
--------------


5. (C) The situation in Nepal was discussed at great
length in the dialogue, according to Kwatra. China
emphasized its principle of "noninterference in
internal affairs" with respect to the King's
monopolization of power. India and Nepal have a
special relatinship and their border is India's only
completely open border, Kwatra noted. India strongly
supports the restoration ofthe traditional three
pillars of Nepali politics: the constitutional
monarchy, the parliament/political parties, and the
people. The King should allow the revival of
independent political parties.

Sino-Indian Border Talks Set For Early 2006
--------------


6. (C) India expects to host the second phase of
Sino-Indian border talks in the first quarter of this
year. The issue was discussed only briefly during the
Saran's meeting with Dai Bingguo. For the border
talks, India's National Security Advisor Narayanan and
China's EVFM Dai meet on a separate track as Special

BEIJING 00001773 002 OF 002


Representatives of their respective Prime Ministers.
The first phase of talks, concluded late in 2005,
reached consensus on the principles and parameters of
the talks. India seeks a "comprehensive packet"
solution to border demarcation. The second phase will
be tougher than the first, Kwatra stated, because it
needs to resolve "nitty-gritty" issues along the
border.

U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation
--------------


7. (C) Both sides raised India's civilian nuclear
cooperation accord with the United States during the
talks, Kwatra said. India's position is that the
agreement should be seen in a strictly bilateral
context. Furthermore, India's record under the
Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR) is "second to
none." The Chinese did not voice dissatisfaction with
the U.S.-India arrangement, according to Kwatra.

Russia-India-China Trilateral Mechanism
--------------


8. (C) India is developing a trilateral consultation
mechanism with Russia and China at the Foreign
Minister level, Kwatra said. The initial meeting was
held earlier in 2005. The next meeting is planned for
July 2006. The discussions focus on energy and
economic issues.

UNSC Reform
--------------


9. (C) Regarding India's interest in UN Security
Council reform, Kwatra reported that the Chinese said
they support India's participation, but cannot support
the G-4 because of the inclusion of "a certain
country."

Overall Direction of Cooperation
--------------


10. (C) India and China have expanded contacts and
institutional cooperation mechanisms since 2000,
Kwatra summarized, expanding from economic issues to
agriculture, health, and educational exchanges. The
two sides have established dialogues on
counterterrorism, energy, trade and hydrocarbon
emissions. China has become India's second-largest
trade partner, after the United States, with total
annual trade volume of USD 18.5 billion. Joint
projects have diversified to include tuberculosis
research, WTO positions and global issues. The two
countries' similar levels of population, economy and
development drive their common interests, according to
Kwatra.
Sedney