Chinese ambassador Mr. Wei Wei meets Goa governor
Diplomatic Mission in India and China November 30, 2013, Chinese
Ambassador to India Mr. Wei Wei met with Mr. B V Wanchoo, Governor of Goa, during his visit to the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Both sides exchanged views on strengthening trade, tourism and cultural exchange between China and Goa. Wei Wei said China attaches importance to deepening cooperation with Goa in economic, trade, tourism and cultural relations. He hoped that Goa could integrate tourist route and make full use of the advantages of price and location in order to attract more Chinese tourists to visit. He welcomed Goa to establish a sister-city relation with Chinese city to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation at local level. Wanchoo introduced the economic and tourism situation of Goa to Ambassador Wei Wei and expressed the willing to further cooperation between Goa and China in tourism and other fields.
‘India, China have made history during Manmohan Singh’s visit’
India and China have made history during the just concluded visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by working on a new set of rules for the smooth development of bilateral ties and reshaping the world, the Chinese media said on Friday. “History can be made in a moment, especially when two of the world’s
most populated nations are determined to do so,” a commentary by the staterun Xinhua news agency said. “As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shook hands in Beijing and cheered exchange of visits, the two Asian giants have come to a common view of facing up to the future, rather than looking back,” it said summing up the official mood here about the outcome of Singh’s three-day visit which concluded yesterday. As two emerging economies with over one-third of the world’s population, “China and India are working on a new set of rules that will not only lay a smooth track for bilateral ties, but also help reshape the world,” it said. Nine agreements including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), besides a new MoU on transborder Rivers were signed during Singh’s visit. “In a bid to build greater trust and confidence, China and India signed BDCA. Both sides hailed the agreement as a powerful tool to maintain peace and tranquility on the border, a ‘foundation’ for the growth of China-India relationship,” the commentary said. Singh held talks with both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li on almost all aspects of Sino-Indian relations. His three-day tour received wide attention in official print and television media. Singh in his speech at the Chinese Communist Party Central School where top leaders get trained also enunciated a broad outline for future relations between the two countries to maintain close ties while addressing their mutual concerns. Both Premiers hold a clear vision about where the biggest potential of ChinaIndia relations lies and are committed to realising the global prominence of the strategic partnership, the Xinhua commentary said. “China-India relations have gone far beyond bilateral scope and have global and strategic significance,” Xi said during his meeting with Singh, who responded by saying “when India and China shake hands, the world notices,” Xinhua said. The two sides vowed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral forums including ChinaRussia- India, the BRICS and G20. “In a move that may change the geopolitical map in Asia and the world, China and India decided to move ahead with preparation for the BCIM Economic Corridor that compasses Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar. China expressed readiness to step up investment, railway construction and industrial zone development in the region,” it said. The flow of funds, goods and people through the maritime Silk Road across the sub-continent will be identical to what happened in history, a precedent from which the two ancient countries draw wealth and strength for current cooperation, it said. To enhance friendship and understanding between the two peoples, China and India agreed to launch a series of joint events, including a Year of Friendly Exchanges, sister-
city relationships and commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Panchsheel, it said. “The seed of friendship sown today will bear fruit in coming generations. Such long-term initiatives demonstrate the vision and wisdom that the two ancient cultures share in building their future in a changing world,” it said. “The all-round improvement in political trust, practical cooperation and people-topeople contact cast light on the prospect of ChinaIndia relations - the two most dynamic economies in the world roll ahead side by side at a more coordinated pace and in constructive competition. And a peaceful, cooperative China-India relationship is a bliss for Asian resurgence and global prosperity and stability,” it said. “And they do have the potential for success. In 1954, the prime ministers of China and India issued a joint declaration to officially designate the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel) as guidelines for bilateral relations. These principles have been widely recognised as norms of international relations over the past six decades,” the commentary added.
India and China bury the hatchet, focus on trade
Indian and Chinese leaders have played down their recent border dispute and other tensions and promised to work together towards regional stability and economic growth. At the end of formal talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Li Keqian, India and China signed eight bilateral agreements, including key pacts in trans-border river management and trade on Monday, May 20. The Chinese premier, who is on his first overseas trip since taking office, held his first round of talks with Singh. His visit comes just after a recent flare up of tension in disputed territory on the shared border. Both sides resorted to aggressive posturing when a handful of People’s Liberation Army soldiers set up camp on a remote spot 18 kilometers into the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBG) sector of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, which India regards as its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The issue was finally resolved after much saber-rattling.
Building trust
An Indian army soldier guards the Srinagar-Leh highway in Zojila Pass about 108 kms, 67 miles, east of Srinagar on April 6, 2013. The April conflict was swept under the rug for
high-level talks. Playing down the event, Manmohan Singh said despite differences in the past, both countries shared a mutually beneficial relationship. “We have had our differences in more recent times but have built a mutually beneficial relationship. The basis for continued growth is peace on our borders. While seeking early resolution of border, peace must be preserved,” the Prime Minister said at a joint press conference. Similarly, Li said, “We do not deny there are problems between the two sides. Both believe that with regard to the boundary, both have kept peace in the border areas. We are friendly neighbors and will do nothing that will damage the interest of the other side. Without common development of India and China, Asia will not become strong and the world will not be a better place.” “World peace cannot be a reality without strategic cooperation between India and China. On the basis of mutual understanding, we can promote a healthy and sound relationship,” Li added.
Trade over territory
During talks, both leaders agreed on a roadmap to reach a “dynamic balance” in bilateral trade and also agreed to “consider the potential for a bilateral Regional Trade Arrangement.” Economics took priority over the territorial dispute, according to Srikanth Kondapalli, professor in Chinese studies at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, because the intensifying euro zone and global financial crises meant it was necessary for Li to “diversify markets to developing countries, including India.” Li Keqiang arrived in India for a threeday visit on Sunday “China’s economy has declined in the last few years from double-digit growth rates to about seven percent last year,” he told DW. China is now India’s largest trading partner and some analysts say focusing on that will be beneficial to bilateral relations. “The fact that this trip has happened is important. It is a victory of the diplomatic and political overtures and will propel ties despite the irritants that exist,” Alka Acharya, a China expert at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told DW. “We have to take comfort from the positives of this visit and move ahead. This is a regime change in China and we have to advance ties.” Li is heading an 80-member delegation that includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He visited Mumbai before continuing on to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.
Embassy of India, Beijing
No. 5, Liang Ma Qiao Bei Jie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 China Tel: +86-10-85312500/2501 /2502/2503 Fax:+86-10-8531 2515 Web: www.indianembassy.org.cn