Qingdao (East China) : Striking a positive note in the first high-level political contact, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri today (Jun 21, 2004) discussed Jammu and Kashmir and all other aspects of bilateral ties during talks described as "warm and productive".

Singh had a 100-minute working lunch meeting with Kasuri at which officials from both sides were also present followed by a 25-minute one-to-one "intimate" parleys in the plush Sheraton Qingdao hotel, sources said.

The two ministers, who are in Qingdao to attend the 22-member Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), "reviewed the progress in all aspects of bilateral relations including Jammu and Kashmir, and implementation of the framework for the dialogue process worked out in February by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries," the sources in the delegation said.

Singh later told reporters, "The chemistry was pretty good," while Kasuri said, "We discussed all the issues that are necessary for us to discuss. We had a very positive frame of mind towards all issues."

They agreed to remain in regular touch and provide continuous political guidance to the ongoing process. They also hoped to meet each other on several occasions over the next two months.