While Mukherjee raised the issue of China’s role at the NSG, sources said the Minister’s meeting with the Prime Minister was “cordial”.

The sense of disappointment is deep within the UPA and the Congress, especially since party president Sonia Gandhi has visited China twice in the last one year. Sonia and son Rahul visited China in October 2007. And last month, she, along with Rahul and daughter Priyanka Vadra, were guests of the Chinese government for the Olympics inaugural. They met Chinese President Hu Jintao; the Congress and the Communist Party of China signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance regular visits and promote closer interaction. A number of high-level visits between the two sides have taken place in the four years, including one by President Hu Jintao and another by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Several senior leaders from India visited China this year with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January, followed within a few months by Mukherjee in May.