China geared up to send a high-powered delegation to India to put the strained ties back on track

As China geared up to send a high-powered delegation to India to put the strained ties back on track, a state-run daily today cautioned that the two countries should to be guarded against efforts by elements from within and outside to derail ties.

Zhou Yongkang, ranked ninth in the hierarchy of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), will be visiting New Delhi towards the end of this month to hold talks with top Indian officials, officials said here.

The visit by Zhou, member the influential Politburo Standing Committee in-charge of political, legal and legislative agenda, has set off speculation that China is making efforts to warm up to India and to repair the damage caused by a host of issues, especially the denial of visa to Lt Gen B S Jaswal on the ground that he headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir, which China regards as disputed.

After the incident, India had put on hold all the defence exchanges between the two countries. Zhou's visit is more or less confirmed but the dates are under finalisation, an official here said.