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An eleven-member BJP delegation visited China from 26 August to 01 September, 2019 led by BJP National General Secretary Shri Arun Singh at the invitation of the Communist Party of China. They visited Beijing, Guangzhou and other places of China. During their interaction, the delegation made it clear that “sensitivities and aspirations” of both countries were to be respected for better relations, while making a pitch for a reduction in trade deficit and more cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and tourism.
The visit between political parties comes after a gap of nearly a decade and in the run-up to the second edition of an informal summit between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to be held in Mamallapuram between 10-12 October, 2019.
Shri Arun Singh was accompanied by In-Charge of BJP Foreign Affairs Department, Shri Vijay Chauthaiwale, National Spokesperson on Economic Affairs Shri Gopal Agarwal, party MPs Shri Shivkumar Udasi (Karnataka), Shri Suresh Pujari (Odisha), Shri Raksha Khadse (Maharashtra), Shri Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar (Madhya Pradesh), Shri Mahesh Poddar (Rajya Sabha), Chandigarh BJP president Shri Sanjay Tandon, Delhi BJP spokesperson Shri Ashok Goel and Delhi BJYM secretary Neetu Dabas.
The delegation met with CPC standing committee member Ye Zhenqin, Guo Yezhou (vice minister of IDCPC) and Song Tao, minister IDCPC, to whom a letter from Home Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed to President Xi Jinping was also handed over. The delegation members said the dilution of Article 370 was raised in the meetings held with members of the CPC, but that the Indian side had conveyed that “each one should respect the other country’s sensitivities and aspirations” and that no territorial change affecting relations with any country had taken place. The BJP delegation also said that it would “hurt Indian sentiments” if China was seen to take the side of any country “fostering and promoting terror” against India, a reference to Pakistan.
The BJP delegation urged China to take measures to increase imports from India so that the $57.86 billion trade deficit could be brought down.
Talking to media later Shri Arun singh said, “We maintained that there is no change in the territory of any country. And the whole purpose of the move of Article 370 was the welfare of the people in the state”.
Shri Vijay Chauthaiwale, who was part of the delegation, said the BJP’s decision to go ahead with this visit despite the developments at the UNSC showed that the ruling party “was keen to have dialogues”.
Another highlight of the visit, Shri Chauthaiwale said is that BJP’s National President Shri Amit Shah had written a letter meant for Chinese President Xi Jinping. The letter, which was handed over to the CPC leadership, apparently said that there should be more interactions between the two parties.