New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS): India said Friday that China's plans to build two 1,000 MW nuclear reactors in Pakistan are a "matter of concern" and the issue is likely be discussed during Prime Minister Manmohan's Beijing visit Oct 22-24.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, addressing reporters ahead of the prime minister's back-to-back visits to Moscow and Beijing from Sunday, said China's plans to build the reactors in Karachi "are a matter of concern for India".
Asked if the matter would be discussed on Oct 23 when Manmohan Sigh holds talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, she declined to give a definite answer, adding that she did not want to prejudge what the two prime ministers would discuss.
On the India-China boundary issue which had seen both sides in a stand off earlier this year when Chinese troops intruded into the Indian side in Ladakh, she said the two countries have had several rounds of talks on the subject and are discussing the "framework" for modalities to reduce tensions.
She stressed that maintenance of peace and tranquility along the over 4,000 km boundary is an "important factor" in India-China bilateral relations and form the "fundamental basis on which the rest of the bilateral relations can progress".
On China issuing stapled visas to two archers from Arunachal Pradesh last week, Singh said while both sides need to be given more time to resolve boundary issues, "we want to reiterate that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India".
India has taken up with Beijing the issuance of stapled visas. China lays claim to the northeast state of Arunachal Pradesh and considers it "disputed" territory.
The foreign secretary declined to say if the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement would be inked during the prime minister's visit. The Cabinet Committee on Security had on Thursday approved the blueprint of the BDCA.
Water sharing issues are also likely to figure in the talks.
China and India share "valuable hydrological data" on common rivers, especially the Brahmaputra which flows down from the Tibetan plateau. India and China have an Expert Level Mechanism on common rivers and the issue "will continue to be discussed", she said.
The adverse trade deficit, which stands at $39 billion, "is an issue of concern and has been raised at several levels", she added
Singh said that China has proposed an industrial park in India where several Chinese ventures could cluster together. A team from China, including from the China Development Bank, is currently in India to discuss the subject, she said.
The Chinese team will be shown sites in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where they could set up the industrial park that would have a five year trade development plan, she said.
An India-China CEOs forum would also be holding a meeting and they would forward their recommendations to the two prime ministers.
The visit would see Manmohan Singh and Li holding their second bilateral meeting this year. Li had visited India in May on his first overseas visit after taking over.