Krishna calls on key Chinese leaders with aim of improving bilateral ties

Beijing, Feb.8 (ANI): Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing on Wednesday at the start of his three-day visit to the country.

Krishna and Jiechi reportedly discussed Russia and China's veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution to stop the ongoing violence in Syria.

The US-sponsored resolution to restrict oil trade with Iran was also discussed at the meeting, besides situation prevailing in Afghanistan.

Krishna also held talks with ninth ranked Politburo Member Zhou Yongkang. The two leaders reportedly discussed ways to improve bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Yongkang is widely regarded as China's security affairs czar, and visited India in 2010 for talks with several Indian leaders, including Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

Krishna arrived in China on Tuesday.

Shortly after his arrival, he said that both countries were making steady progress on the boundary question. He also rejected an American intelligence report that said that Indian armed forces were preparing for a limited war with China.

He was responding to a testimony made before the US Senate last week by the Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper.

During his visit Krishna is scheduled to open a new 10- million dollar Indian embassy building in Beijing. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)