NEW DELHI. Aug 7: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee plans to send a special envoy to China to improve ties strained by New Delhi's recent nuclear tests, newspapers reported here today, says AFP.

Jaswant Singh, who heads the.flawing.,gp.iMws?ion is a confidant of the prime minister. "is likely to visit China shortly." The Times of India said.

The Hindustan Times also said he was likely to go to Beijing. and added his engagements from Saturday had oeen cancelled to facilitate the trip.

But there was no independent confirmation of the report. Spokesman for the prime minister and Jaswant Singh, who enjoys Cabinet rank, could not be reached for comment.

"Due to the sensitive nature of the visit, the government is keeping it (visit) under waps." the Times of India said.

Jaswant Singh, a leading member of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been used by the prime minister for confidential diplomatic contacts since the Indian nuclear tests in May.

Singh has held talks'with ,u§. offiaaU .aud..travelled to,, Europe. He was the prime minister’s special envoy last month at the meeting of the foreign ministers attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila.

Singh also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masahiko Kumura on the sidelines of the Manila meet.

He later joined Premier Vajpayee at a South Asian regional summit in Colombo, where the prime ministers of India and Pakistan held talks for the first time since their rival nuclear tests in May.