ISLAMABAD – The Indian government has delayed issuing visas to Chinesedelegates for an India-China business forum, which was scheduled to takeplace in the capital city of New Delhi later this week.
According to English daily The Indian Express, citing sources, theorganisers were told last Friday by the Indian Ministry of External Affairsthat they could not issue the visas without approval from the Ministry ofHome Affairs.
The 70-member Chinese delegation had reportedly applied for visas weeks agobut had not received them yet.
“The organisers, who appear to have had government backing for previouseditions of the forum, tried to push the visas for the Chinese delegatesuntil the last minute but, have been told that they will not be issued fornow,” the report said citing sources.
With delegates booked on flights leaving China over the next two days, andno hope for the visas to be issued over the weekend, organisers decided tocall off the event.
The International Business Linkage Forum (IBLF), the India-based organisersof the forum along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &Industry (FICCI), announced on their website that they had to cancel themeet on 13 and 14 November “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
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This comes days after India’s refusal to join the China-backed RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)linkinits present form, Sputnik has reported.
The Indian government has expressed its concern over the rising tradedeficit with China and other countries that constitute the RCEP. As per acommerce ministry document, India’s trade deficit with China accounts for$53 billion.
The two countries are involved in a slew of territorial and boundaryissues as well,linkparticularlyafter the Indian parliament revoked Article 370 of the Constitution inAugust of this year, ending the special status accorded to Jammu & Kashmir.
