Beijing: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on June 23 began talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People. Before the two leaders went for talks, Vajpayee, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit China in a decade, was given a ceremonial welcome. The two leaders are expected to hold in-depth talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The vexed Sino-Indian border issue is also expected to come up during the talks Vajpayee will hold with Chinese leaders during his six-day tour although no break through on the dispute is expected. Nonetheless, the Indian side expects the Prime Ministerial visit to be "extremely successful" with a number of agreements, including one on easing visa restrictions, scheduled to be signed before Vajpayee leaves for home.

Vajpayee had visited China in 1979 as External Affairs Minister in the Morarji Desai Cabinet but called off his visit mid-way to the country when China attacked Vietnam. He had visited the country in 1993 as a member of a Parliamentary delegation.

During his stay in Beijing, Vajpayee will also hold separate meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military Commission and former President Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo and Vice President Zeng Qinghong.

India and China are expected to sign six to seven agreements to building cultural centres in Beijing and New Delhi and signing pacts on easy visas, consular cooperation, education and science and technology.

An agreement on promoting trade and investment protection is also being readied, which would go a long way to further boost bilateral trade ties that currently stand at a record 4.94 billion $.

The Prime Minister will also visit Beijing University and open the India Study Centre. Later, Vajpayee would lay the foundation of the new Chancery of the Indian Embassy.

On June 24, Vajpayee would meet the former President Jiang Zemin. He would also tour the forbidden city in Beijing. Later he will address a major business meeting that would be attended by captains of the Indian and Chinese industries.

Vajpayee would call on the Chinese President for their second meeting in 20 days after their meeting in the historic Russian city of St. Petersburg on May 31.

PTI