GUWAHATI, Oct 30 - The Government of India is of the view that the recent controversy regarding the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh will not affect the country�s relation with China. Meanwhile, a team of Chinese officials is scheduled to visit India soon to finalize the modalities for joint action against terrorism.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed sources in the Government of India said that both India and China are aware of the present situation and the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh would not have any major impact on the relations between the two countries.
China has strongly opposed the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh as the country is still considering that area as its part. But sources in the Government of India made it clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and as a guest of India, the Dalai Lama can go to any part of India.
Sources pointed out that earlier also, China had issued statements opposing the visits of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh. China had always been opposing the visits of the Prime Minister and Defence Minister of India to Arunachal Pradesh, but such statements did not affect the relations between the two countries, sources said. �China always opposes visits by the Dalai Lama and Indian dignitaries to Arunachal Pradesh for the sake of opposing such visits. There was a time when China even opposed to issue visa to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, but now they issue stapled visa. So the situation is changing and there is no reason to worry about the controversy regarding the Dalai Lama�s proposed visit,� sources added.
Sources said that despite having differences on several major issues and border disputes, the relation between India and China is improving considerably in recent times. Both the countries need each other on economic and other major issues, and under the present circumstances, there is no apprehension of the relations deteriorating just because the Dalai Lama is to visit Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, both India and China have agreed to work together to deal with terrorism and India has taken up the issue of several senior leaders of the militant outfits of the Northeast staying in China,
particularly in the Yunan Province. A team of officials of India recently visited China to have detailed discussion on the issue and a team of Chinese officials will be visiting India to complete the modalities in this regard. Sources said that both the countries are keen on sharing �real time intelligence� on activities and movements of terrorists and the modalities are to be worked out.