PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been asked by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to lead a goodwill delegation to China. Mukherjee in a letter to Kumar requested that he lead a delegation under the exchange programme of the External Affairs Ministry with the international department of the Communist Party of China. "I would recommend you consider leading a delegation to China within this year under the exchange programme," Mukherjee said in the letter dated February 15, which was released to the media on Friday. "China is our largest neighbour. We attach priority to deepening and diversifying relations with China. The exchange programme provides an opportunity to expose senior political leaders of the two sides to each other's countries as it would help enhance mutual trust and understanding, an important ingredient for healthy bilateral relations," the letter said. It was not immediately known whether Kumar would accept the invitation. Asked by reporters if Mukherjee's invitation amounted to extension of an olive branch to him after he criticised the UPA government for failing to check anti-Bihari violence, Kumar replied in the negative, saying the two should not be linked.
0 comments:
Post a Comment