China, India forming strategic ties By Fang Zhou (China Daily) Updated: 2005-02-18 00:48
When Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and Indian Foreign Secretary
Shyam Saran, on behalf of their respective governments, sat together for a
"strategic dialogue," the two countries were pushing their bilateral relations
onto a new stage.
The world's two most populous nations have for a long time shown a
willingness to shoulder more responsibility and play larger roles in the
regional and international stages as their regional and international influence
continuously surges.
The two-day strategic talks, held on January 24 in New Delhi, is aimed at
broadening the scope of Sino-Indian relationship while providing both countries
with a platform to exchange notes on regional and global issues of common
concern.
Among the topics discussed were the issues of globalization, energy security,
democratization of international relations, reform of the United Nations (UN),
non-proliferation, anti-terrorism and the situation in Iraq and on the Korean
Peninsula.
The two sides also briefed each other on their respective foreign and
security policies and reached common ground on a wide range of issues.
The launching of the first ever "strategic dialogue" mechanism fully
demonstrates that the two neighbours have already raised relations above a
lingering and plaguing border dispute that once plunged their relationship into
an icy period.
At this meeting of historical significance, both sides did not camouflage
their strong desire to look beyond bilateral disputes and develop and upgrade
ties in a global perspective.
Both countries stressed the importance of reforming international
institutions, including the UN and its Security Council.
Both sides regarded the possibility of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and
sensitive technologies falling in the hands of terrorists as "a grave threat."
And both recognized the importance of international co-operation instead of
unilateral actions to combat penetrative global dangers.
Also, both sides basically reached an agreement on the next round of talks to
be held in China on mutually agreed dates and necessary preparations for a visit
to India by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao set for March, which is expected to mark
a new phase in bilateral ties.
At the talks, the Chinese also expressed its understanding of the Indian
wishes to pursue a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and supports India
in playing a bigger role in the international arena.
The strategic dialogue is a key step forward in developing and deepening
bilateral ties under the two neighbours' unambiguous strategy for a larger
engagement with each other.
Beijing and New Delhi's repetition of their unequivocal stance that they
advocate democratization of international relations and multi-polarity, is
undoubtedly conducive to promoting a more democratic and peaceful international
society that can more efficiently handle the challenge brought by globalization.
The flourishing bilateral relations in recent years have undoubtedly laid
down a consolidated foundation for such a strategic dialogue mechanism between
the two countries.
Since the 1962 border clash, which saw bilateral relations enter the abyss,
Beijing and New Delhi had for many years made sluggish progress in the process
of contacts and misgivings.
However, since the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to
China in June 2003, during which the two countries vowed to promote a long-term
constructive and co-operative partnership, compromised bilateral ties have been
back on the way of rapid restoration and improvement.
The two countries have since then been engaged in discussions to resolve the
lingering thorny boundary dispute, with special representatives holding several
rounds of talks.
In economic fields, trade and investment are also booming, with total trade
volume exceeding US$12 billion by November last year, according to the China
General Administration of Customs. Co-operation in other fields, such as
culture, tourism and sports, is also expanding.
Bilateral military relations, in particular, have been rapidly boosted in
recent years.
Following the then Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes' visit to China
in 2003, the two countries have conducted frequent military training exchanges
and contacts.
Late that year, Indian naval ships paid a visit to Shanghai and held with the
Chinese forces the first ever joint military exercises off the city.
That year, Wu Quanshu, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's
Liberation Army of China, visited India.
Last year, Chinese Defence Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military
Commission Cao Gangchuan went to India.
And late last year, Indian Chief of Army Staff General NC Vij paid a
week-long visit to China.
The visit to China by the highest-ranking Indian army official in a decade
has added much mutual trust to bilateral military ties and injected new vitality
into the overall Sino-Indian relations.
China and India have good reasons to discard past enmity and join
hand-in-hand for the sake of themselves and others.
The world's two largest developing countries share a similar history and are
both eager to rejuvenate themselves under a peaceful international and internal
environment to become a more important actor in the international community.
Both countries have adopted an independent foreign policy and share common or
similar views and stances on numerous major international issues.
Both are exploring and pursuing a development model suitable for their own
national conditions.
More importantly, the two neighbours are economically complementary and can
benefit much from making good use of each other's advantages.
Fully aware of a wide space for co-operation, the two countries have on many
occasions reiterated their wishes to improve their ties at all levels and in all
areas while addressing their outstanding differences, including the boundary
dispute, in a negotiable, fair, reasonable and mutually satisfactory manner.
"We hope that, with India's co-operation, we will be able to solve the border
issue so that bilateral ties will witness faster development on a new basis,"
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, said following the first round of
strategic dialogue.
The stance was echoed by the Indian side.
"We are doing so in a purposive and mutually acceptable manner and we look at
our relations in a larger regional and global backdrop," said Indian External
Affairs Minister Netwar Singh on January 27 at the Seventh Asian Security
Conference.
With their global clout increasing, the two countries have been conscious
that consolidated mutual trust and co-operation between them serve as crucial
elements that can make the region and the whole of Asia vibrant and energetic
for growth.
And there is also an expanded consensus in the minds of decision- makers in
Beijing and New Delhi that the two countries have enough space and opportunity
in the region and beyond to develop and boost ties.
The establishment of the "strategic dialogue" mechanism shows the two
neighbours have overcome the old mindset that two key regional players would
inevitably compete and struggle for "scope of influence" and "geopolitical
interests."
There are reasons to expect that the two Asian
heavyweights will further advance the strong momentum of stable and sound
good-neighbourly ties under a larger scope following the first strategic talks.
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