Ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India from November 20-23, both nations are building up the tempo through orchestrated sound-bites focusing on the positives and not referring to the disagreements plaguing bilateral relations.

China 's Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankui said that Jintao’s visit to India will be the first by a Chinese President in a decade. He said that this visit will present an opportunity to “enhance political trust” and “show the world that the common development of both countries is not only important bilaterally but also significant for world peace, development and prosperity.” Furthermore, this visit will also provide an opportunity for both nations to further their strategic and cooperative partnership established April 2005 when Premier Web Jiabao visited India .

Tinakui echoed publications by official Chinese documents, claiming “active progress” in border negotiations under the political parameters and guiding principles for resolution of the border issue agreement signed last year and revealed that both sides have started “exploration” on “the details of a framework agreement.”

Jintao will have meetings with have “wide contact with political parties,” meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Abdul Kalam, and apart from New Delhi, will visit Agra and Mumbai. He will also address the China-India economic forum. A wide range of agreements covering energy, agriculture, education, and science and technology will be signed during this visit.

Apart from border issues, free trade agreement, energy, terrorism, foreign direct investment, bar on investment from specific Chinese companies, and the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will be discussed. The border issue, energy, terrorism, and the nuclear deal will be from the Indian perspective and the others from the Chinese side.

China’s help in the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) to clear the nuclear deal is crucial for India . China has so far said that India should sign the discriminatory Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to gain access to nuclear fuel and Tiankui did not give any indication of a shift in his country’s position.