China communicating with India on Brahmaputra issue

Beijing: China on Monday said it was maintaining "communication and cooperation" with India on the issue of dams on the Brahmaputra river to ensure that no negative impact is caused on the river's lower reaches.

"China has always taken a responsible attitude towards cross-border river development. China and India are maintaining communication and cooperation on the cross-border river issue," Xinhua quoted foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying at a daily press briefing.

Hua's comments came in response to India's concerns about China's plans to build three hydropower stations on the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra, known as the Yarlung Zangbo river in China.

China has always taken a responsible attitude towards cross-border river development, Hua Chunying said.

The official said China was committed to carrying out development and protection at the same time and has given full consideration to the projects' impact on the river's lower reaches.

"The construction of the stations will not impact flood control or disaster reduction efforts, as well as ecological environment on the lower reaches," she said.

With an average altitude of 4,500 metres, the Yarlung Zangbo is the highest river in the world.

It originates in the glacial regions of the northern Himalayas, runs 2,057 km through Tibet, India and Bangladesh and finally meets the Bay of Bengal.

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