China, India to forge civilian N-cooperation: Trade to reach $40bn by 2010
By Jawed Naqvi
NEW DELHI, Nov 21: India and China took several bold steps on Tuesday to consolidate their growing ties, despite lingering suspicions over New Delhi’s soft handling of Tibetan separatists, a sore point with Beijing.
After a wide-ranging discussion between President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the two sides unveiled a `10-pronged strategy’ that seeks to promote civilian nuclear cooperation and accelerate efforts to settle their boundary dispute in the knowledge that they are "not rivals but partners for mutual benefit."
"As two large Asian states and as two of the fastest growing economies of the world, cooperation between India and China transcends the bilateral (level) and has global significance," Prime Minister Singh told reporters after the talks.
Commercial engagement between India and China will receive urgent attention. Both sides will endeavour to raise the volume of bilateral trade to $40 billion by 2010 and encourage the two-way investment flow.
"We have instructed the joint task force to expedite its study of the feasibility and benefits of the India-China regional trading arrangement and submit its report by October 2007. It has been decided to boost trans-border connectivity and cooperation. They endorsed a major initiative on science and technology, which will involve launching of several joint projects.
"Cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy will be promoted,” Dr Singh said.
The two countries affirmed their commitment to resolve outstanding differences, including on the boundary question, through "peaceful means and in a fair, reasonable, mutually-acceptable and pro-active manner."
While this process goes on, it would be ensured that "such differences are not allowed to affect the positive development of bilateral relations". One such sticking point is China's interest in pushing for greater economic ties, particularly the need for India to open up for Chinese investments.
Dr Singh's comments with President Hu sitting beside him seemed to be aimed at overcoming this apparent mistrust. He described the relations as irreversible.
"The joint statement we have agreed on reflects the understandings arrived at in our talks," he pointed out.
The declaration puts in place a 10-pronged strategy to intensify cooperation in all areas and to give greater content to the India-China strategic partnership.
The two sides agreed to hold regular summit-level meetings, intensify high-level exchanges and strengthen institutional linkages and inter-ministerial dialogue mechanisms.
Additional consulates-general will be opened in each country, one in Kolkata for China and one in Guangzhou for India, to facilitate the growing interaction in trade and tourism.
"We are happy that the long-pending issue of the property of the Indian consulate in Shanghai has been resolved.," the prime minister said.
President Hu's visit has been marked by noisy protests staged by Tibetan separatists loyal to the Dalai Lama.
The Chinese side ensured that India's stand to not allow anti-China political activities by the refugees was reiterated prominently in Tuesday's joint declaration.
To make sure that the point was not missed, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing berated the Dalai Lama while reminding India of its commitment.
