BEIJING: China disputed Indian media reports that Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had declined to attend the Russia, India, China summit in New Delhi. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang , said it was a scheduling issue, and Wang will attend the forthcoming meeting of RIC.

"China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism. We have actively participated in the Foreign Ministers meeting and also other activities under the framework," Geng said on Friday. "According to my information, three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," he added.

Media reports earlier said the Chinese foreign minister had boycotted the New Delhi meeting because China was upset about the Dalai Lama visiting Arunachal Pradesh . China claims ownership of Arunachal, and regards Dalai Lama's activities as interference in its internal affairs.

China is keen about India participating in the upcoming Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in mid-May. New Delhi is reluctant and has not announced a final decision on whether it will send representatives, and whom. New Delhi feels it will be contradicting itself if it attended the meeting and endorsed the Belt and Road program after opposing one part of it, which is passing through the disputed Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Geng said the three governments are consulting each other to finalize the dates for the next meeting of RIC foreign ministers. "About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not in China," he said explaining that Beijing was not trying to stall the upcoming meeting.

