The Hindu : A feel-good factor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003

International

International - India & World

A feel-good factor

By P.S. Suryanarayana

BEIJING June 23. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, raised expectations of a

definitive upturn in the Sino-Indian relationship by saying that he felt "encouraged" after his discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, here today.

Speaking at a public function amid the intensive discussions between the delegations of the two countries on how best to dot the i's and cross the t's of a prospective joint declaration, Mr. Vajpayee sounded quite optimistic about the delicate political exercise with strategic implications. He said: "I am encouraged after my discussions with Premier Wen Jiabao that both our countries see an opportunity to proceed along this path" that was designed to "mend their fences" — a veiled reference to the boundary issue.

Taking time off from the political business of overseeing the meandering process of discussions, Mr. Vajpayee voiced his upbeat assessment before he and Mr. Wen signed the Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation between the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China. Also signed, but at the ministerial level, was a memorandum on expanding border trade, also an issue with political and strategic overtones.

Addressing the students and faculty of Peking University, Mr. Vajpayee said: "One cannot wish away the fact that before good neighbours can truly fraternise with each other, they must first mend their fences. After a hiatus of a few decades, India and China embarked on this important venture a few years ago. We have made good progress. I am convinced that, with steadfast adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, with mutual sensitivity to the concerns of each other and with respect for (the) equality (of both sides), our two countries can further accelerate this process so that we can put this difference (over the border issue) firmly behind us. I am encouraged after my discussions with Premier Wen Jiabao that both our countries see an opportunity to proceed along this path."

Mr. Vajpayee, who earlier inaugurated a Centre for Indian Studies at Peking University, amplified the theme about "mutual sensitivity to the concerns of each other" in a more forthright fashion.

He said, "we should focus on the simple truth that there is no objective reason for discord between us (India and China) and (that) neither of us is a threat to the other".

On the related hype about "rivalry" between India and China, the Prime Minister said: "As (the) two (are) large developing countries at roughly the same stage of development, sharing the same neighbourhood (and) pursuing similar growth trajectories with comparable economic priorities and similar political ambitions, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made between India and China.

It is also an unavoidable characteristic of human nature that there is always a sense of comparison between two close and equal neighbours.

But we need to clearly understand the difference between healthy competition and divisive rivalry."

Striking yet another optimistic note in this specific context, Mr. Vajpayee said that India and China had, even if only "a few decades ago", "emerged decisively from (the) dead-end of mistrust" that was caused by "the shadow of the Cold War and the consequent distortions of global international Relations".

Following this post-Cold War development, India and China "have vigorously set about recovering our mutual understanding (and) building a broad base for our cooperation and (also) redeeming the promise of our complementarities".

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