By IOL South Asia Correspondent

NEW DELHI, October 1 (IslamOnline) - Relations between India and China have improved with the conclusion of the third round of security talks between the two countries Sunday, September 29, in Beijing.

Ties between the two Asian giants had chilled following India’s nuclear tests in 1998 when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tried to explain the rationale for the tests to U.S. President Bill Clinton as a response to China’s burgeoning nuclear arsenal.

As if that was not enough of a red rag in the face of China, the redoubtable George Fernandes, India’s defense minister, publicly declared that China was India’s "enemy number one." However, the two countries moved fast to limit the damage.

The dialogue is intended to address each other’s security concerns. The third round reviewed the present international security situation, including the campaign against terrorism and U.S. moves to oust Saddam Hussein.

The two sides specifically discussed regional security cooperation, relations with ASEAN and the situation in the Korean peninsula. However, a small glitch turned up to mar the pleasant atmosphere of India-China dialogue as the Chinese ambassador in Pakistan called for a “greater understanding” for Pakistan on the part of the international community.

India did not agree with the Chinese ambassador. China’s help to Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program are also a matter of concern for New Delhi, besides the unresolved border dispute between the two.

The first round of the talks were held in Beijing in March 2000, the second in New Delhi in February 2001. The second round of talks were upgraded to foreign ministry's additional secretary level, where it remained during last week’s third round.

The second round of security talks took place in a congenial atmosphere following the vitiation of ties nearly a year ago at the time of India’s nuclear tests.

The improvement largely came following the visit of Li Peng, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress. Li Peng firmly set the tune for further ties saying China was no threat to India, nor did it regard India as a threat to its national security.

However, regarding India’s persistent problems with Pakistan, China has not been of any great help. Whenever the issue of Chinese help to Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program is brought up, the Chinese say they have not been helping Pakistan.

The future of Tibet and the permanent residence of Tibet’s spiritual leader Dalai Lama in India remains an irritant in India-China ties. The escape of another Tibetan religious leader, Karmapa, to India two years ago was an embarrassment to China.