'Karmapa issue must not be exploited'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 24. The Chinese Ambassador to India, Mr. Zhou Gang, has expressed the hope that the presence of the 17th Karmapa in India would not be politically exploited by those hostile to China.

Replying to questions after delivering an address on ``Fifty years of China'', under the auspices of the AKG Centre for Research and Studies, Mr. Gang said today an important covenant of China's foreign policy was to establish a long-term friendly relationship ``to strengthen unity and cooperation''.

``In spite of the ups and downs, bilateral relations have regularly returned to the track of restoration''. In fact, April 2000 is being celebrated as the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties between the two nations with a series of events, he said.

The Chinese Ambassador underlined the need to strengthen coordination and collaboration between the two countries which had a big role to play in world arena as well as in promoting peace and stability in Asia. ``Practice has proved that cooperation would benefit both countries'', he said.

According to Mr. Gang, differences, whatsoever, between the two nations were ``minor ones'' when viewed against the common goals that the nations strive to achieve. ``China and India had a major role to play in bringing about a new and fair international economic and political order''.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) would never ``seek leadership'' of the global Communist movement but expected all Communist parties to join hands to strengthen the movement and make due contributions towards making a just world order. The CPC intended to interact with all political parties, including Communist counterparts, on the basis of independence and equality.

The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, and CPI(M) leaders including Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan and Mr. M. A. Baby, spoke.

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