East Asia

China

We seek good relations with all our neighbours including China. We believe that the Five Principals of Peaceful Co-existence, jointly enunciated by India and China, are of continuing relevance to the development of our relations. We seek a relationship in which both sides are responsive to each other’s concerns. We remain committed to the process of dialogue to resolve outstanding differences and to the development of friendly, cooperative, good neighbourly and mutually beneficial relationship with China.

The India-China border has remained generally peaceful. Both sides have reiterated their commitment to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in accordance with the Agreement on Border Peace and Tranquillity (1993) and Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas (1996).

The Joint Working Group (JWG) on the boundary question was set up by a decision of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in 1988, to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question. The JWG has met ten times so far. The Eleventh meeting of the JWG, scheduled to be held in Beijing in 1998, was not convened by the Chinese side. Foreign Office Consultations, in the framework of the Protocol on this subject concluded in August 1997, were held in Beijing on 25-26 February, 1999.

Exchanges at the governmental, parliamentary, non-governmental, people-to-people and other levels continued during the year. Functional exchanges in trade & commerce; environment; railways; industries; agriculture; energy; non-conventional energy; education; civil services and public administration; space; science & technology; remote sensing; aeronautics; medicines; engineering; academics; culture and sports continued. Chief of General Staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), General Fu Quanyou, visited India from April 26-May 1, 1998 – the first-ever visit by a PLA Chief of General Staff. The 6th meeting of the India-China Expert Group of diplomatic and military officials, a sub-group of the JWG, was held in Beijing on June 8-9, 1998. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission met the Chinese Foreign Minister during the ASEAN Regional Forum - Post Ministerial Conference (ARF - PMC) Meeting in Manila on July 27, 1998. The Vice Chairman of China's National People’s Congress (NPC) met our Speaker during the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) Conference in Moscow on 11 September, 1998. A delegation of Parliamentarians visited China in October to participate in the 6th General Assembly of the Asia-pacific Parliamentarians’ Conference on Environment and Development. Bilateral party-level exchanges during this period included visits of a delegation of the Chinese Communist Party to India in September to attend the CPI party congress in Chennai and in October in Calcutta for the CPM party congress. A 3-member delegation from the Janata Party visited China in October 1998. At the NGO level, the first ever gathering of academics of the neighbouring regions of North-Eastern India and South-Western China deliberated on "Regional Development in India and China", in New Delhi, on November 19-20, 1998. Another delegation of Chinese scholars participated in the "Sino-India Track II Dialogue" organised by the Centre for Policy Research from 25-28 January, 1999 in New Delhi.

India-China trade relations have continued to grow. Bilateral trade during 1998 reached US$ 1.922 billion, marking an increase of 5.02% over 1997. India-China border trade conducted through Lipulekh Pass (Uttar Pradesh) and Shipki La Pass (HP) amounted to Rs. 51.7 lakhs in 1998.

Japan

We remain committed to friendly co-operative, mutually beneficial relations with Japan with whom we have shared cultural links and values of human freedoms, commitment to peace, stability and economic development of the people in Asia and the world.

In the immediate aftermath of our nuclear tests in May 1998, Japan took several measures including a freeze on Yen loans and grant assistance for new projects and calling off a series of scheduled meetings and visits. Bilateral dialogue, encompassing issues covering our multifaceted relationship, resumed in January 1999. This includes Foreign Secretary level talks, Trade Talks and MEA-MITI dialogue. Other meetings are being scheduled.

High level exchanges during the year include the meeting between :

• Our two Speakers in Tokyo (26 October, 1998)
• Shri I K Gujral, Chairman of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister of Japan (October 1998)
• Shri Sikander Bakht, Industry Minister and the Japanese Minister for International Trade and Industry (November 1998)

Visits from Japan include :

• A six-member Japanese Parliamentary Delegation led by Deputy Speaker Mr Kozo Watanabe(November 1998)
• Dr Taro Nakayama, President of the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League (April 1998)
• Ms Akiko Yanamaka Member of House of Representatives of Japan (April 1998) and
• Mr Shin Sakurai, Chairman of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on population and development ( April 1998)

Our Minister of Industry participated in the FICCI sponsored seminar "Destination India" in Japan (1-6 November, 1998) organised by FICCI. The 29th meeting of the India-Japan Business Cooperation Committee was held in Delhi (30 November-1 December, 1998)

India’s exports to Japan amounted to Rs. 69072 million in 1997-98 and India’s imports from Japan Rs. 79117 million. According to the Sectt. of Industrial Approvals, proposals approved for Japan’s investment in India, till July 1998 amounted to Rs 72,103 million.

Exchanges of scientists, engineers and research scholars continued. Eminent Buddhist scholars and monks participated in the Buddha Mahotsava (5-8 November, 1998).

Republic of Korea (ROK)

Relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK) continue to be marked with cordiality and understanding.

Smt Vasundhara Raje, MOS (EA) visited Seoul (January 21-24) for bilateral consultations. She met the ROK PM, the FM and the MOS for Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. MOS (EA) extended an invitation to the ROK PM to visit India.

The ROK PM, Mr Kim Jong Pil, visited India (February 10-11). Alongwith the Vice President he inaugurated the CII sponsored India Engineering Trade fair (IETF ’99) where ROK participated as a Partner Country. More than 140 Korean companies participated in the IETF. A week long festival of cultural events from Korea was organised to coincide with the IETF.

High level exchanges during the year include:

• Meeting between Shri I K Gujral, Chairman of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and President Kim Dae-Jung in Seoul (October 1998)
• Visit of a 31-member Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation for the 15th meeting of the India-ROK Joint Business Council(JBC) in New Delhi (29 October, 1998)
• Visit of Dr M Thambi Durai, Union Minister of Surface Transport to ROK (October 1998) for the 5th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems.

The two-way trade between India and ROK in 1997-98 amounted to Rs. 48,615 million, India’s exports to ROK being Rs. 1,53,00 million and imports from ROK Rs. 33,315 million. Investment approvals till July 1998 amounted to Rs. 59,051 million.

Buddhist leaders and scholars from ROK participated in the Buddha Mahotsava ( November 1998). Exchanges of cultural delegations, students and research scholars continued.

The Goverment of ROK opened an Honorary Consulate General in Calcutta in November 1998.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

India’s relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) continue to be friendly and cordial. Consultations between the Foreign Offices of the two countries were held in Pyongyang (14-18 February, 1998). During the occasion, a protocol of co-operation between the Foreign Ministries of India and DPRK was also signed.

According to Foreign Trade Statistics of India, trade between India and DPRK during 1997-98 amounted to Rs. 6,982 million, India’s export to DPRK being Rs. 3,164 million and imports from DPRK Rs. 3,817 million.

Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting visited Pyongyang (22-26 September, 1998) to participate in the Sixth Pyongyang Film Festival for Non Aligned and Developing countries.

India continued its humanitarian assistance to DPRK which has been experiencing food shortage for some time. India sent 50-meteric tonnes of baby food and 1000 metric tonnes of rice during the year.