Wen Jiabao seeks delicate balance in Indo-Pak trip
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits India and Pakistan this week with the delicate task of easing Indian suspicions about China's rise while reaffirming close ties with New Delhi's rival Islamabad.
Wen travels to Asia's other rising giant India on Wednesday for an expected two-day visit with an agenda topped by festering border disputes that have vexed ties between the world's two most populous countries for decades.
He then travels to Pakistan for a three-day stop where the two sides will highlight their close relations by signing a range of deals.
In New Delhi, Wen -- who said in October there is "enough space in the world" for China and India -- is expected to highlight increasing two-way trade and developing-country solidarity in talks with his counterpart Manmohan Singh.
But India is likely to raise a number of concerns, analysts said.
These include their competing claims over two Himalayan border regions -- a bone of contention over which they fought a war in 1962 and which has come to the fore again with recent strong assertions by China of its territorial rights.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said recently ties will improve if "China shows more sensitivity on core issues that impinge on (India's) sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Delhi is also concerned about alleged trade barriers that have helped create a trade deficit with China that some believe could hit 25 billion dollars this year, and Beijing's growing investments in port facilities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
China's issuance of visas stapled to the passports of residents of the Jammu and Kashmir region has ruffled feathers in New Delhi, where it is seen as questioning the disputed area's status as an integral part of India.
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