Manmohan Singh ends China visit, leaves for Kazakhstan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left for Kazakhstan, completing his three-day stay here during which he attended the BRICS Summit and held bilateral talks with the Presidents of China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

   Singh will be in Kazakh capital Astana for two days during which both the sides will sign an inter-governmental framework agreement on civil nuclear cooperation and some other pacts.

   Attending the third BRICS summit here, Singh pushed for closer cooperation, particularly in the field of economy among the five fast emerging nations.

   BRICS (India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa) took a significant step towards enhancing economic cooperation when the members countries signed an agreement under which they will be able to provide credit to each other in local currencies and collaborate in capital markets and other financial services.

   The summit also discussed the volatile situation in West Asia and North Africa, particularly developments in Libya and the impact on the BRICS counties. They collectively voiced their opposition to the use of force in Libya and pitched for a central role for the UN and regional organisations in resolving the matter.

   In Sanya, Singh also met Chinese President Hu Jintao during which it was decided that India will send a military delegation to China later this year, marking resumption of high level defence exchanges, which had been suspended in last July.

   India had put high level defence exchanges on hold after China denied proper visa to the then Northern Army Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal.