Sonia achieves many firsts during China visit

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday wound up her visit to China, becoming the first world leader to meet the newly-elected Chinese leadership and renewing Sino-Indian friendship, which her late husband, Rajiv, had given an impetus 19 years ago.

Sonia met Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was re-elected as the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China on October 22.

"You are the first foreign political leader to visit China after the conclusion of 17th National Congress (on October 22), which is an indication of importance both of us have attached to our relations," Hu told Sonia during their meeting in Shanghai.

Again, in Shanghai, China's commercial capital, Sonia was the first foreign dignitary to meet the new Communist party secretary Yu Zhengsheng, who was appointed to the post only on Saturday.

Both Hu and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao were effusive in their praise for late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, describing him as an "outstanding statesman," who had made contribution not only to India, but also to the strengthening of Sino-Indian relations.

Rajiv Gandhi, along with Sonia had paid a ground-breaking visit to China in December 1988, which normalised Sino-Indian relations after the setbacks in 1962.

"Sonia has visited the political capital and the cultural capital Xian and we are also visiting the commercial capital Shanghai and have met with top Chinese leadership," senior Congress party leader Karan Singh told PTI.

"I think the visit has considerable significance, especially since this is the first foreign political party being received after the Communist Party of China's 17th National Congress. Very warm sentiments were expressed on both sides. I would say that it is a helpful visit and will pave the way for better understanding in the future," Singh said.

"It has been an extremely productive visit. Sonia was the first foreign leader to be received by President Hu after his re-election as CPC general secretary. This was a point made by all the Chinese leaders we have met. Obviously, the Chinese government has given the highest priority to the Congress party delegation from India," Minister in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan told PTI.

"The Congress president was particularly impressed by the fast-paced developments in China since the country's opening-up and liberalisation. President Hu met the delegation for over two hours, including a banquet and touched upon the common problems facing both the countries and offered to work together in meeting the challenges," Chavan said.

Bilateral issues were only broadly touched upon and it was left to the two governments to discuss these, he said, adding Sonia Gandhi's visit has renewed the very warm relationship that India had with China ever since Rajiv Gandhi's visit in 1988.

Commenting on Sonia's visit and meetings with the top Chinese leadership, senior Congress leader and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said it was a significant event for his party as well as for Sino-Indian relations.

"The very fact that this visit was accepted as the very first visit by the leader of a fraternal party of another country immediately after the conclusion of the 17th Party Congress of the CPC and the election of a new politburo and the re-election of the general secretary underscores the importance the CPC attaches to its relations with India and the Indian National Congress," Sharma said.

"The CPC and the Indian National Congress are two of the largest political movements in the world," he noted, adding India and China are the world's two most populous nations and two of the fastest growing economies of the world today.

"There are areas where our interests converge. Similarities of problems when it comes to inclusive growth, food and health security, we need to work closely. Also in the multilateral organisations, especially in the WTO, to ensure an equitable economic matrix for the developing world. There is much to learn from each other. The two countries are ancient countries and in the modern context, emerging powers," the minister said.

Sharma said Sonia's discussions with the Chinese leadership covered all issues, including global concerns.

They discussed food security, health, environment, climate change, need for energy security and to access alternate sources of fuel and clear development mechanisms.

Global trade negotiations and the Doha Round also came up for talks.

"There was a meeting of minds," Sharma said, adding that they felt that both India and China need to work closely in the WTO when it comes to trade and price distorting subsidy in agriculture in developed countries.

There is also the need to take the Doha Development process forward for a successful conclusion, safeguarding at the same time the interests of the developing countries, especially the small farmers, who would otherwise by adversely affected.

Also, when it comes to non-agricultural market access, there has to be a differential and specialised treatment for the developing countries so that they gain market access and at the same time, we should be in a position to new global tariff regimes to protect the indigenous industries, Sharma said.