India, China bury differences, say together can counter the West

[SpArK]

India, China bury differences, say together can counter the West​

While defence exchanges between India and China remain suspended, the ruling parties of the two countries spent a day invoking historical ties and undermining commonality of interests. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna termed divergence between them as “grossly exaggerated” while Congress’s foreign affairs department chairman Karan Singh said the two should be “pitted against the West”. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) explained how it underwent “tremendous transformation” while “advancing along time”.

The occasion was a seminar here on “China and India: 60 Years and Beyond” on Monday, sponsored by the Congress and the CCP as a part of their bilateral mechanism to further party-to-party ties.

While India said its relations with China are “under-utilised”, CCP leaders maintained that development in the two countries should be viewed as an “opportunity rather than a threat”. “India’s soft power is very soft and China’s hard power is very hard. When combined, what Chindia could become can surpass our imagination,” said Liang Wentao, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Commerce, China.


The CCP was inclined to ignore Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Communism being a dead ideology. “Only basis of our relationship (with political parties from 160 countries) is designed to promote mutual understanding and trust to further bilateral ties. It does not mean that the CCP has abandoned its ideology. Our party advances along time. In the last decade, the CCP has undergone tremendous transformation. That is why it can maintain vitality,” Aiping, Vice-Minister, Central Committee, CCP, told The Indian Express when asked about Rahul’s remarks. Lu Yongzheng, CCP youth wing in-charge, will visit India next month to meet Rahul.


While the seminar was on at Nehru Memorial Library auditorium, Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Politburo, was getting warm receptions from PM Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi separately.

CCP delegates clapped when Karan Singh informed them that Zhou had a “successful meeting” with Sonia and it had gone on for 90 minutes against the scheduled 30 minutes. He said the Congress was always “pro-active” on its China policy. “Some people in the West are constantly pitting China against India. We don’t accept that. In fact, India and China together should be pitted against the West,” he said.

Earlier, Zhou set the tone for the seminar saying, “We should maintain the high level exchanges, strengthen communication and cooperation between our governments... and accommodate each others core interest....”

India on its part said its relation with China is ‘under-utilised’. Revealing that a hotline between the premiers of the two countries will be activated soon, Krishna called upon China to provide a level playing field to Indian firms, particularly in pharmaceuticals and IT sectors where they are facing hurdles.

Krishna said while there are outstanding issues, “We have to address each other’s concerns and sensitivities on issues impinging on each other’s security and well being.”

India, China bury differences, say together can counter the West