Future India China Relations

[Max The Boss]

Future India China Relations

Geographical overview -
China and India are separated by the formidable geographical obstacles of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayan mountain chain, with Tibet serving as a buffer region between the two. China and India today share a border along the Himalayas and Nepal and Bhutan, two states lying along the Himalaya range, and acting as buffer states. In addition, Indian Kashmir province borders both the India and China.

Two territories are currently disputed between the China and India: Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is located near the far east of India, while Aksai Chin is located near the northwest corner of India. However, all sides in the dispute have agreed to respect the Line of Actual Control and this border dispute is not widely seen as a major flashpoint.

From 2000 –

With Indian President K. R. Narayanan's visit to China, 2000 marked a gradual re-engagement of Indian and Chinese diplomacy.
In 2002, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji reciprocated by visiting India, with a focus on economic issues.
In 2003 ushered in a marked improvement in Sino-Indian relations following Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's landmark June 2003 visit to China. China officially recognized Indian sovereignty over Sikkim as the two nations moved toward resolving their border disputes.
In 2004 also witnessed a gradual improvement in the international area when the two countries proposed opening up the Nathula and Jelepla Passes in Sikkim which would be mutually beneficial to both countries. 2004 was a milestone in China-India bilateral trade, surpassing the $10 billion mark for the first time.
In April 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Bangalore to push for increased China-India cooperation in high-tech industries. In a speech, Wen stated "Cooperation is just like two pagodas (temples), one hardware and one software. Combined, we can take the leadership position in the world." Wen stated that the twenty-first century will be "the Asian century of the IT industry." The high-level visit was also expected to produce several agreements to deepen political, cultural and economic ties between the two nations. Regarding the issue of India gaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, on his visit, Wen Jiabao initially seemed to support the idea, but had returned to a neutral position on the subject by the time he returned to China.
In 2005 the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit China was granted an observer status. While other countries in the region are ready to consider China for permanent membership in the SAARC, India seems reluctant.
A very important dimension of the evolving China-India relationship is based on the energy requirements of their industrial expansion and their readiness to proactively secure them by investing in the oilfields abroad - in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. On the one hand, these ventures entail competition (which has been evident in oil biddings for various international projects recently). But on the other hand, a degree of cooperation too is visible, as they are increasingly confronting bigger players in the global oil market. This cooperation was sealed in Beijing on January 12, 2006 during the visit of Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who signed an agreement which envisages ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) placing joint bids for promising projects elsewhere. This may have important consequences for their international relations.
On July 6, 2006, China and India re-opened Nathula, an ancient trade route which was part of the Silk Road. Nathula is a pass through the Himalayas.
Officials of both countries say that the re-opening of border trade will help ease the economic isolation of the region.
In May 2007, China denied the application for visa from an Indian Administrative Service officer in Arunachal Pradesh.
In December 2007, China appeared to have reversed its policy by granting a visa to Marpe Sora, an Arunachal born professor in computer science.
In January 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China and met with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and had bilateral discussions related to trade, commerce, defense, military, and various other issues.
In July 2008, at the 34th G8 summit in Japan, Hu Jintao and Manmohan Singh had a friendly meeting.
In the wake of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, India offered aid to help the earthquake victims.
In 2008 was a milestone in China India bilateral trade, surpassing the $37 billion.
China India bilateral trade expected to reach $60 billion in 2010.
In 2009 China Navy and India Navy joined in an Anti piracy navel mission in off Somalia waters.




Comments welcome

 

[RajsParadise]

I really like the bilateral relations between these two countries to hog the limelight of their predominance growth rate in their economies and sustainability in going economic turmoil. Both these countries are vastly populated, share divergent culture and the more they trade and respect each others position in the growing world I believe the world trade would be at their door steps.

.. In political arena their is a long way to go but as a observer I do find the shifting paradigm of these economic power houses trying to establish a strong hold at international front, and if one may recall China opted not to stop 123 Nuclear agreement even though initially it tried to.

.. More substantial efforts from both the sides would bind these countries in a concrete relationship of Trust and Faith among each other and I believe the world is going to come across a new horizon if India and China can continue to sustain International Pressure.

 

[duhastmish]

I think its hard to see - a firendly stand between these two countries because of a big diffrence in their policies and political approach.
But a good relation should be maintained through cultural and trade ties. which is going in right direction and may be after certain time. push for a hand of friendship. but its unlikely because of backstabbing history!