Will act responsibly on cross-border river issues: China

Beijing (PTI) - A day after India sought
details from Beijing on its plans to divert waters of the
Brahmaputra by building a dam on it in Tibet, China on Tuesday
said it will adopt a "responsible" attitude taking into "full
consideration" the interest of downstream countries.
"China adopts a responsible attitude towards the
development of cross border water resources," Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here.
He was answering a question on concerns in India over
Beijing's plans to build a dam on Brahmaputra resulting in
diversion of waters.
"We adopt a policy that protection goes together
with development, and take into full consideration the
interests of downstream countries," he said.
While China has been directly assuring India for
over an year that it would build run of the river dam on
Brahmaputra, reports that a series of such dams could result
in water erosion again raised concerns in India as some of the
Chinese experts have been suggesting a number of dams which
could generate a high degree of power.
In March, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Jiang
Yu said China proposed to build a dam on Brahmaputra but not a
"very big one" to cause concern for neighbouring countries
India and Bangladesh, which avail the waters.
"At present, the hydro power station on the Yarlung
Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river is not a very big one and will not
lead to any big change in the downstream water levels or
affect the harnessing efforts by the downstream countries,"
she said.
According to reports, China is planning to build a
USD 1.2 billion run of the river dam to generate 510 mw
power and has assured India several times last year including
during the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to New Delhi
that it was not aimed at diverting the river waters to affect
the flow to India and other lower riparian countries.
Four expert's level talks have been held to exchange
provision of hydrological data and flood management.
India had on Monday said it was seeking more details
from China on reports on the issue.
"We are trying to get more details both from the
government and our mission and then depending upon the report
that we get, we will be able to make an assessment and then
take appropriate diplomatic steps," External Affairs Minister
S M Krishna had told reporters in New Delhi.
Official sources in New Delhi had said India had
discussed the matter with China, which in turn said the
projects on the mighty river were small and not affect the
flow of the river into India.
"We have been in touch with the Chinese side and the
matter has been discussed with them on more than one
occasion," the sources had said.
They said the Chinese side has been contending that
the projects on the Brahmaputra were small, run-of-the-river
projects and there would be no diversion of water.