China objects to ADB funds for Arunachal project, says Krishna

New Delhi, July 9 (PTI) China had recently objected to
ADB funding an irrigation project in Arunachal Pradesh which
is a "clear violation" of the charter of the multilateral
lending agency, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha
(Upper House of Indian Parliament) Thursday.

Replying to questions, External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna said India had made it clear to all member nations of
ADB that political considerations cannot be cited for
prohibiting the Bank for evaluating any project.

All member countries on the board of Executive Directors
of ADB except China supported the India funding plans.
"China did not endorse the Country Partnership Strategy
(CPS) 2009-12 for India in the Board of the ADB on the ground
that the proposed India CPS involved technical assistance
funding for the Flood and River Erosion Management Project in
Arunachal Pradesh which China claims is its territory," he
said.

India had told the ADB and all member countries including
the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia,
Philippines, Germany and Italy that the CPS is not a political
document and it does not make any judgement as to the legal or
other status of any territory.

The member countries were also told that "China's
objection on political grounds is a clear violation of the
ADB's charter which prohibits the Bank from evaluating any
proposal on grounds other than economic," he said.

"India's CPS was discussed in the meeting of the Board of
Executive Directors of the ADB on June 15 and all member
countries except China supported the document," Krishna said.

He said New Delhi had conveyed to the ADB member nations
including China that Arunachal Pradesh is "an integral part of
India and its status is not negotiable."

ADB assistance has to be strictly decided on economic
parameters and not on political considerations, he said.
"Ultimately ADB had gone with India's point of view."

"We have put across (to China) in the strongest
diplomatic language possible that Arunachal Pradesh is an
integral part of India," he said.

New Delhi, he said, wanted to resolve the boundary issue
with China amicably.

"We have friendly relations with our neighbour China. We
are engaged in a multilateral activity with them. Our trade is
growing and we would like to continue in that direction," he
said.

India and China will meet in New Delhi next month to
discuss the boundary issue, he said. "We certainly would like
that China-India relationship is normal (and) extend the
relationship to some kind of partnership."

"We will have to engage China and come to an
understanding," he said.

Krishna said he plans to visit Arunachal Pradesh shortly.
Previously, the President and the Prime Minister had visited
the state, which was protested by China, he added. PTI ANZ