In the first high-level Sino-India contact since the once-in-a-decade leadership change in the ruling Communist Party, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon arrived here Sunday for wide-ranging talks on bilateral ties, including the vexed border issue.
During his three-day stay, Mr Menon will meet some of the new leaders elected in last month’s congress of the ruling CPC to succeed the outgoing administration of President Hu Jintao. There is no official announcement here on Mr Menon’s schedule.
Besides holding talks with his counterpart and China’s top diplomat Dai Bingguo, who too retires in March 2013, Mr Menon is expected to call on vice-premier Li Keqiang, number two in the new seven-member standing committee of the party headed by general secretary Xi Jinping, official sources said.
Mr Li is tipped to succeed Premier Wen Jiabao when the latter steps down in March, after which a new team led by Mr Xi, who replaces President Hu Jintao, would take over power formally.
Mr Menon, who is a familiar figure in top echelons of the Chinese government due to earlier postings here, including as India’s Ambassador, will hold talks with Mr Dai on Monday. The two officials, designated as special representatives for the talks to resolve the border issue, will review the progress in the last 15 rounds of parleys.