China-India development gap still exists, say experts
India should have an open and inclusive attitude and understand its position correctly in the cooperative world, Chinese experts said Wednesday, noting a development gap still exists between India and China.
“Today we believe in a multicultural world – and a multipolar world order,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday.
A Wall Street Journal article said India has long been pushing for a permanent member seat in the UN Security Council.It hopes to become part of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which would help it more easily gain access to nuclear fuel and technology, the report said.
It would also like a greater say in the decisions of other international organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, according to the report.
“India, from its top leader to ordinary citizen, does not clearly position itself nor does it objectively evaluate China’s development,” said Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of International Relations on Wednesday.
“It is a fact that India’s economy has rapidly developed, therefore it has become more ambitious,” Qian Feng, a researcher at the Beijing-based Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the Global Times over the phone on Wednesday.
“India wants to become a big world power, but there is a large gap between reality and what it wishes for,” Hu noted. “India’s low-efficient administrative organizations, big low-educated labor force and severe environmental pollution and inconsistent tax system are all barriers to its development.”
Qian said that India also has advantages, as it always wins diplomatic favors from Western countries, and its society is also progressing.
“India should keep an open and inclusive attitude as it develops, and be friendly with its neighbors,” said Qian.
Hu said that India, in terms of following China’s development footsteps, should accelerate its reform, and understand its position clearly in the winwin globalization era.