After the ugly episode of two Indians being tortured near Shanghai, China today promised adequate safety to Indian nationals there as it initiated criminal proceedings against five locals suspected of being involved in the act.
The assurance was given by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan to External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and a senior official of the ministry during his separate meetings, after which the Indian side expressed satisfaction at the steps taken.
"I had detailed discussion with your foreign minister. The Chinese government attaches great importance to this matter. We are working very hard to find a solution to this issue and to resolve it as early as possible," Zhang told reporters after his meeting with Krishna.
Earlier, Zhang told Gautam Bambawale, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the External Affairs Ministry, that due attention was being given to the safety of Indians in China.
Krishna said he had discussed with Zhang the safety of the two Indians and both agreed that safety of every Indian in China is of "utmost importance" to them also.
"I am immensely pleased and satisfied with the quick response I got from the Chinese ambassador and also pleased and satisfied with the local authorities in China, who have been cooperative," the minister said.
He said such issues, which "arise out of trading conflicts" should not be allowed to "blow out of proportion and distort the good relations" between the two countries.
"Let us try to be objective in assessing the situation and not blow it out of proportion," Krishna said, adding "we should bring larger perspective of safety of these Indians which is now achieved."
Krishna said India has cooperative strategic partnership with China and "we would like to have very cordial, friendly and fraternal relations" with that country.
He said the company at the centre of the row is owned by a Yemeni national and his details are being collected.
The two Indians -- Shyamsunder Agarwal and Deepak Raheja -- have complained of ill-treatment and torture ever since they were "kidnapped" on December 15 by some local people who were demanding payment of their dues.
They say they are merely employees of the company which owed money to its Chinese suppliers and their employer has fled without clearing the dues.
Asked whether the Indian Mission would provide any legal help to the two businessmen, Krishna said, "what can the consulate do about assisting them in civil litigation when they have gone there for trading and working for a trading house in Yemen? I think, they will take care of themselves."
Zhang said, "We are coordinating and communicating with relevant (authorities)" and that all issues would be settled through legal processes.
With regard to the two businessmen who have been kept in confinement by some locals, the envoy said, "those people are safe and have their freedom".
Zhang told Bambawale that "serious attention" was being given to the issue related to the two businessmen and hoped that it would be resolved as quickly as possible, sources said.
The assurance coincided with the criminal action being initiated against five Chinese nationals who are suspected to have been involved in the torture of the two.
