New Delhi: Notwithstanding the chill in ties over the visa row, China and India are looking to forge new ties in the field of education with Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal heading for China on a five-day visit.

Sibal will represent India at the World Economic Forum meet to be held in Tianjin in China September 13-15. The HRD minister will, however, leave September 11, two days before the summit begins.

According to a HRD ministry official, during his visit Sibal will meet the Chinese education minister as well as other ministers and discuss prospects of exchange programmes in the fields of education and culture.
Possible programmes in the field of technical education are also likely to be taken up.

Sibal's visit assumes significance as collaboration in the field of education between the two Asian giants is still missing despite signing of the Education Exchange Programme (EEP) by leaders from both countries.

An EEP was signed between India and China in June 2003, and a new EEP was signed during the visit of President Hu Jintao to India in November 2006. IANS