54 Written Answers [RAJYA SABHA] to Unstarred Questions

India visited the following countries : , Bhutan, Japan, Sir Lanka, USA, France, Oman, Qatar, UK, Russian Federation, Italy, Egypt, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Bangladesh, South Africa, Maldives, Indonesia and Singapore. During these visits and in his interaction with leaders of the countries concerned, the Prime Minister discussed various issues of mutual interest in the bilateral, regional and international areas. The Prime Minister also participated in multilateral and plurilateral Summits. Details of these are given in the Annexure [See Appendix 225 Annexure No. 9]

Importance of Kibithu on Indo-China Border

2350. SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS : Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

(a) whether Kibithu on Indo-Chinese border in is the smoothest gateway to China;

(b) whether Indian and Chinese armies are used to cozying up at Kibithu;

(c) if so, whether there is any proposal towards affirming the mutual commitment of strengthening relations in the ongoing year of Friendship between the two nuclear nations;

(d) whether Government would take any steps to develop the Tinsukia-Rima road in Yunnam province of China through Parasuramkunda, Hailayung. and Kibithu for affirming the mutual commitment of strengthening friendship and commercial relation between and China; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED) : (a) and (b) Under the provisions of the 1993 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility Along the Line of Actual Control in the India- China Border Areas and the 1996 Agreement on the Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas and the 2005 Protocol on Modalities for the Implementation of CBMs along the Line of Actual Control, India and China have successfully put in place several confidence building measures which have contributed to peace and tranquillity in border areas. These include border personnel meetings at Spanggur in the Western Sector, Nathu La in the Sector and Bumla and Kibithu-Damai in the Eastern Sector. The BPM point at Kibithu-Damai in the Eastern Sector has been operationalised since 18 November 2006.

(c) During the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India in March 2012, the two sides inaugurated the Year of India-China Friendship and Cooperation under Written Answers [26 APR., 2012] to Unstarred Questions 55 which the two countries have agreed on a series of activities throughout the year to further strengthen bilateral relationship.

(d) and (e) Government is giving careful and special attention to the development of infrastructure in the border areas opposite China, in order to meet our strategic and security requirements and also to facilitate the economic development of these areas.

Visa Stickers missing from Indian Consulate

2351. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR : Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that 500 visa stickers were found missing at the Indian consulate in Johannesburg;

(b) if so, whether an enquiry has been conducted into the matter;

(c) if so, the findings thereof; and

(d) the steps Government proposes to take in the matter, given its impact on national security?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED) : (a) No.

(b) to (d) The questions do not arise.

Border dispute with China

2352. SHRI HUSAIN DALWAI : Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

(a) whether China had recently asked India to refrain from taking any action that could complicate the border dispute;

(b) if so, the reaction of Indian Government on this;

(c) whether India and China had fifteen rounds of talks over the long-running border dispute; and

(d) if so, the progress made in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED) : (a) and (b) On 25 February 2012, the Chinese Foreign Office Spokesperson made a statement that the Chinese position on the disputed eastern sector of the India-China boundary has been consistent and that pending a final resolution, India and China should not take any action in the disputed area that could complicate the problem. India's consistent position that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side.