Rajiv`s 1988 China tour was preceded by Haskar`s secret visit

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) It was after hints being dropped
by Chinese leadership that Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
earnestly started preparing the ground work for his historic
visit to Beijing in 1988 and sent P N Haksar as his special
envoy on a "secret mission" to make sure they were keen to
welcome him.

Haksar, a seasoned political strategist who served as
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had
extensive talks with top Chinese leaders in May, 1987 and on
his return told Rajiv Gandhi that there was "genuine interest"
among the Chinese leadership for him to visit Beijing.

Giving insights to the arduous preparations for the
path-breaking visit in his new book 'My China Diary', former
minister K Natwar Singh says very few people knew about
Haksar's secret visit.

"There were hints from the Chinese side that Rajiv Gandhi
should undertake the visit," Natwar told PTI. They knew he was
Jawaharlal Nehru's grandson, Indira Gandhi's son and enjoyed
the full backing of 413 MPs in Lok Sabha.

On being asked for his assessment by Gandhi, Singh told
him that the time has now come for him to seriously think of
paying an official visit to China.

The message conveyed by Haksar was that India was
prepared to pursue a forward-looking approach, that it does
not consider China to be an adversary and efforts should be
made by both countries to put the past behind.

A clear signal of India's keenness to improve bilateral
ties and better understanding was conveyed to Beijing.

Singh said earnest work was started after Haksar's
return. Leaders from BJP, Left and other parties across the
political spectrum were taken into confidence.

There was a unanimous view that Rajiv Gandhi should visit
China since there had been no movement towards normalisation
of ties. The visit to India by Chinese Prime Minister in
April, 1960 had failed.

"Only, when we had a feeling that there was a "broad
consensus" that he undertook the visit, recalls Singh adding
it was a grand success.

From 1988 to 2009, Sino-India borders have been tranquil.
"That is not a small achievement," he said noting that
bilateral trade today had touched 30 billion dollars.

Singh said the visit was noticed by Pakistan and the
Americans and it had worldwide implications.

In his 192-page book, Singh dwells on the complexities of
India-China relations and has come out with interesting
anecdotes and diplomatic manoeuvrings.

"I welcome you, my young friend. This is your first
journey to China," Chinese leader Deng Xiaping," said greeting
Gandhi.

"The Deng-Gandhi handshake lasted quite a while. It
signalled that Deng wanted the Indian Prime Minister's visit
to succeed."

Symbols send messages in China. Had the handshake been a
pre-functionary one, the visit would have collapsed then and
there, says Singh.

The handshake produced an "electrifying effect" and
decades of "sterile unfriendliness seemed to melt away".

"We have moved forward. 1962 (Sino-India conflict) is now
behind us," Gandhi looking pleased and relaxed told Singh
after his talks with Deng.

Sharing lighter moments he had with the Chinese leader,
Gandhi said Deng had said he was now old and that is why he
had had called the Indian PM "young friend".

When Deng reminded Gandhi that he was 40 years older to
him, the Indian leader quipped that a North Korean minister
had during a recent visit presented him with ginseng. Gandhi
told Deng that ginseng would make him 40 years younger.

Singh said Gandhi, at times, had "weird notions" about
diplomacy. The PM asked him "Mr Minister, we are sometimes
confused at the manner in which your government works...we do
not know who is in charge of this important visit. Gopi Arora,
Ronen Sen, K P S Menon or Romesh Bhandar?

Singh told Gandhi to relax and keep dealings with Arora
and Sen only. PTI