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Vajpayee leaves for China on Sunday

By A rediff correspondent in New Delhi
June 20, 2003 20:18 IST

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will leave for China on June 22 in a special aircraft with three family members, one minister, 27 officials and diplomats, 26 security and personal staff and 38 journalists.

Vajpayee's foster daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya, son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya and granddaughter Niharika are accompanying him.

While Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha is flying with the prime minister, Commerce and Industries Minister Arun Jaitley will join Vajpayee on June 23 and Information Technology Minister Arun Shourie will fly to Shanghai in a special flight on June 25.

National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, Officer on Special Duty in PMO Sudheendra Kulkarni and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal are also part of the entourage.

Vajpayee's medical advisor Dr Navneet Wig and physiotherapist D R Balsare are flying with him.

India's Ambassador to China S S Menon, who will move to Pakistan shortly, Nalin Surie, ambassador-designate to China and Joint Secretary on the China desk Ashok Kantha are part of the PM's team and will assist him in negotiations with the Chinese.

Over ten television crews and 38 senior editors and reporters are covering the visit.

Cook N K Kanan will be there too to take care of PM's meals. He will be assisted by Hotel Taj Palace's supervisor Harpreet Kaur.

PM's China Visit: The Complete Coverage

 

A rediff correspondent in New Delhi

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