China's irritation with the Dalai Lama's "activities" in India Friday injected a somewhat discordant note in President Pratibha Patil's confabulations here although she has carefully avoided touching upon any contentious issues.
Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who is ranked fourth in the Chinese leadership hierarchy, raised the issue of Tibet and "activities" of the Dalai Lama during his meeting with Patil, a day after her discussions with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao at which no such issue was raised.
The 70-year-old Jia, who presides over the 2196-strong CPPCC, regarded as China's top political advisory body, described the Dalai Lama as more of a political leader than a
spiritual figure. Patil had called the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader who stays in India, according to highly placed sources.
On Tibet, Patil is believed to have told Jia that India regards Tibet Autonomous Region as a part of China and it does not allow any anti-China activities by Tibetans based in India.
The President is believed to have cited the example of the passage of the Olympic torch through India ahead of the Beijing Olympics two years ago when the government had taken steps to ensure that nothing untoward happened.
However, officials, downplayed raising of these issues by the Chinese side as "nothing new", adding "we keep talking about it."
Later, at her first public speech during her six-day State Visit, Patil sent a subtle but clear message to this country's leadership saying "mutual understanding of each other's sensitivities" held the key to "deeper and sturdier friendship" between the two Asian giants.
She spoke of the "time-tested" Sino-India friendship "forged in the crucibles of civilisation". She saw growing scope for cooperation between the two countries.
"Mutual awareness about each other and mutual understanding of each other's sensitivities, will hold key to deeper and sturdier friendship," Patil said.
In her address warmly received by Chinese scholars who formed part of a substantial gathering, Patil expectedly made no mention of irritants such as Chinese incursions, Beijing's
support to Pakistan and the issue of stapled visas to Kashmirs, and focused on the positives in bilateral ties.
The Indian leader, who had said on her way here that "there is enough space in the world for both the countries to fulfil their aspirations for development," said at her speech at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with
Foreign Countries that the two governments were working together towards strengthening mutual cooperation.
Patil summed up her discussions with the Chinese leadership as "very positive and fruitful."
"There is keenness on the part of both the countries to move forward," she told PTI.
The President, in her speech, said that her discussions with the Chinese leadership have emphasised the "noteworthy progress that cooperation has achieved in recent years and
chartered the course for further progress."
She said that "in the age of globalisation and seamless communication," the "vibrant and enterprising" people of the two countries had to be at the centre of bilateral ties.
Patil, the first Indian head of state to visit China in a decade, also described China's transformation as "amazing."
"Even in my short stay, I have been impressed by the amazing achievements of China on many fronts," she said.
"This only confirms the prevalent belief in India that much can be learnt from experiences of China, which is a similarly placed emerging economy, with similar aspirations," she said.
Patil also spoke about the possibility of greater India- China cooperation in the international arena.
"In the international arena too, our common interests and shared concerns prove the basis for working together," she said, adding that the two governments were working towards that objective.
Patil said her visit, which takes place as the two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, brought back the memories of their "early solidarity and rewarding cooperation" as modern
nations.