Answer: India and China are both ancient civilizations which have interacted to mutual benefit in the past. We are neighbours and the two largest developing countries in the world; also the two most populous countries in the world. Both are developing countries which have of late been enjoying very rapid rates of growth. Our socio-economic developmental experiences are most relevant for each other. This is especially so since the developmental base of our economies is quite alike. Importantly, our respective world views are also quite similar.
We also have several dissimilarities. Our systems of political governance are different. India is a long standing market economy with well established market institutions. It is more plural; multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual. We have sustained our cultural values and traditions to a very significant extent while engaged in the process of modernization and adaptation to globalization. Our developmental paradigm is also quite different from that of China.
India’s economy is largely internally driven through domestic demand and investment and the developed institutions of the market economy enable productive use of our savings and investment. Our dependence on foreign direct investment is considerably less than that of China’s.
What is important, however, is not the balance between similarities and dissimilarities,
but our agreement to have good neighbourly relations. We also have broad common
interests and substantial potential and opportunities for deepening mutually
beneficial cooperation.
Question 2: Do you think Indian people know China? Do you think Chinese know
India?
Answer: India and China are neighbours with a history of extensive contact. There were of course periods of inactivity between us not only in the historical context but also in the modern context. Presently our two countries are in the process of rediscovering each other for there has been a realization, particularly I believe in China, that it is in our mutual interest to not only build trust and understanding but to extensively learn from each other’s developmental and other experiences and to reinvigorate efforts to resolve the differences between us.
Our effort is to strengthen exchanges in areas such as culture, education, science and technology, youth, development [both economic and social] and tourism. We also need to expand media exchanges.
India is an inclusive, open, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual society. Perhaps the most important ancient bond between our two countries is Buddhism. There appears to be a revival of Buddhism in China and this can again provide a vehicle for both sides to know more about not only each other’s traditions but more importantly our contemporary situations.
Question 3: The border issue, especially the Kashmere area, has been a problem in the Sino-India relationship for long. How do you thing it should be handled? To what extent do you think this issue would impact on Sino-India relationship?
Answer: The Declaration of June 2003 signed by our two Prime Ministers clearly spells out the manner in which the boundary issue is to be resolved between out two countries. In accordance with their agreement, both sides have appointed Special Representatives to explore, from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship, the framework of a boundary settlement. The SRs have met four times already and their efforts have progressed in a positive manner.
India and China are the two potential power houses of Asia. It is, therefore, not surprising that there are those who would like to see us as rivals in the increasingly globalised world economy. There is no doubt that there are and will be areas of competition between us. A certain amount of healthy competition is always good for it keeps us on our toes. But, there is more than ample space in the world economy for both our fast growing economies to be accommodated. As cooperation between our two countries in trade and economy develops, our synergies are likely to grow. Our engagement of and cooperation with the economies of ASEAN and East Asia will also be to our mutual benefit.
Question 4: What, in your opinion, is the biggest advantage in the current Sino-India cooperation? How should the two countries handle our co-petition relationship?
Answer: The biggest advantage in cooperation between our two countries rests in the fact that this is conducive not only to our respective development but also to regional stability and prosperity. Sustained economic and social development in India and China, which represent one-third of humanity, is vital in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity not only in Asia but in the whole world.
Question 5: China and India are geographically very close, while it seems that our relationship is not that close. Why?
Answer: I have in effect already addressed this issue in response to your second question. We have had differences of significance after both our countries achieved independence in the mid 20th Century. What is important is that we now have a mutual desire to develop good neighbourly relations. Our countries have begun to rediscover each other. We have agreed that we will address our differences through peaceful means in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner. At the same time, we are developing our bilateral relations.
Question 6: Someone said that China and India is the future of the world. How would you comment?
Answer: The truth is that India and China between them account for almost 1/3rd of humanity. Ours are amongst the largest economies in the world and also amongst the fastest growing. We happen to be both located in Asia which is perhaps the most dynamic continent at this stage in the 21st century.
Both India and China are developing countries and if viewed in the above perspective, as we traverse the road towards greater development and prosperity, our two countries will undoubtedly be playing a role greater than what we are today in the world at large.
What is important is that as major developing countries, India and China have broad mutual interest in the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world.
Friendship and cooperation between our countries will not only promote socio-economic development and prosperity in India and China but will also help maintain peace and stability regionally and globally, enhance the positive factors of globalization and strengthen the trend towards multi-polarity in the international arena.
Question 7: After Mr. Vajpayee’s visit to China in June 2003 and the new India government came into power in 2004, cooperation between the two countries has been further promoted. How would you comment on the potential of Sino-India relationship in the future? Are there any obstacles? If yes, what are they?
Answer: Constructive mutually beneficial cooperation and the growth of trust and understanding between our two countries is a process that we are carefully nurturing and encouraging. As our economies continue to develop rapidly in the years ahead not only will there arise even more opportunities for bilateral cooperation but there will also be concrete opportunities for our other partners in Asia. This will help contribute to development, peace and stability in our region.
As regards obstacles, we have agreed at the highest political level that we will qualitatively enhance the bilateral relationship in an across the board manner while simultaneously addressing differences through peaceful means in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner.
Question 8: The Chinese PM Wen will visit India this month, how would you comment on the importance of his visit?
Answer: There has been steady progress in bilateral relations in recent years. The Declaration of June 2003 signed during then PM Vajpayee’s visit to China enshrines the principles on the basis of which we have agreed to build our long term and constructive relationship.
The visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to India next month is expected to mark
a new phase in the development and diversification of our bilateral relations.
It will further the growth of trust and understanding between our two countries.
During his visit we expect to progress our relationship in such a manner that
will further facilitate greater exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation
between our two countries. A series of important agreements are expected to
be signed.