The Hindu : National : “No Sonia-Yang meeting was scheduled”

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Thursday, Sep 11, 2008
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National

“No Sonia-Yang meeting was scheduled”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday described as “incorrect and without any basis” reports that party president Sonia Gandhi did not meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and emphasised that no such meeting was scheduled.

Reacting to reports in a section of the media, party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said the attempt to connect the meeting that was not scheduled with the proceedings of the Nuclear Suppliers Group was “unwarranted and unfortunate.”

Mr. Ahmed asserted that the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of China (CPC) shared a longstanding relationship that had grown from strength to strength as evident from Ms. Gandhi’s visit to Beijing during Olympics.

The Congress and the CPC had signed a memorandum of understanding for exchange of leadership development programme as part of party-to-party contacts.

Asked whether Mr. Yang sought an appointment with Ms. Gandhi, the spokesman said such request should come through the Ministry of External Affairs.

These questions should be directed to the government, he added.

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