Lack of clarity on meetings prompts Mamata to call off China trip

Kolkata: In a sudden twist, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cancelled her trip to China barely hours before her flight to Beijing from Kolkata on Friday, prompted by the inability of "the Chinese side to confirm political meetings at an appropriate level as informed by the Indian Ambassador in China."

Banerjee was supposed to head a delegation to China following recommendations of the Union minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, under the Exchange Programme of the government of India with the International Department of the Communist Party of China.

There was no confirmation for the political meetings till 12 noon in India, which was 2.30 pm in China, despite several attempts by Indian Ambassador in China Gautam Bambawale. The state was in constant touch with the Foreign Secretary in this connection and the matter has been informed to the Union Minister of External Affairs, who is on a foreign trip to Mongolia at present.

Amit Mitra, the state Finance minister, said: "Till yesterday (Thursday), everything was going on well, but unfortunately, the Chinese side could not confirm the political meetings at the appropriate level as informed by our Ambassador in China. Therefore, the purpose of the visit with a delegation to China under the Exchange Programme is of no use."

Mitra held a press conference along with Chief Secretary Malay De on Friday at Nabanna and made the announcement stating that "although our Ambassador in China had tried his best to make the programme a success, non-confirmation of the political meetings at the appropriate level as proposed by the Indian Ambassador to China, at the last moment, has unfortunately compelled us to cancel the visit."

When asked that whether there is any political reason behind the cancellation of the Chief Minister's visit to China, Mitra said: "It is an issue of two neighbouring countries. So it is better not to make any comment on it. We can't go just like that without ensuring that something fruitful for our country would result from this visit."

The Chief Minister wrote to the Union Minister of External Affairs on April 2 appreciating her recommendation and mentioned that she "wished to visit China" in last week of June since the interest of the country is involved.

Accordingly, the programme was chalked out by the Ambassador of India in China and Mamata Banerjee was supposed to be in Beijing and Shanghai from June 23 to 30.