The Hindu : Front Page : India, China well on the path to strengthening ties: Yan

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Saturday, Nov 28, 2009
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India, China well on the path to strengthening ties: Yan

Special Correspondent

They maintain close consultation on international issues

Photo exhibition represents China’s achievements
Effectiveness of the stimulus package in China hailed

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Zhang Yan, Chinese Ambassador to India, at the inauguration of the photo exhibition ‘New China, New Look’ to mark the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Chennai on Friday. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy (left) and the Chancellor of the Vellore Institute of Technology University, G. Viswanathan, are also admiring the exhibits.

CHENNAI: Despite some outstanding issues and “certain forces that are not happy to see the progress of [their] relations,” India and China are well on the path to strengthen their cooperation both bilaterally and on the world stage, said Zhang Yan, Chinese Ambassador to India.

Inaugurating a photographic exhibition titled “New China, New Look” on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Zhang tracked the relationship between the two countries over the last six decades.

From the joint initiation of Panchsheel concept in the 1950s, the two countries are today working closely for common interests at global forums.

“In the international arena, China and India have maintained close consultation and coordination on international issues such as international trade, the financial crisis, climate change, food and energy security, anti-terrorism and so on,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the function, Mr. Zhang said that with regard to the upcoming climate change summit at Copenhagen, Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was in Beijing on Friday, meeting with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and representatives from Brazil and South Africa to craft a common strategy for developing nations.

The photographic exhibition represents modern China’s achievements, which Mr. Zhang listed: a vibrant economy based on robust agriculture, industrial growth and advancements in science and technology, a reduction of poverty, unity among various ethnic groups and an increasingly important role in international affairs. He also listed the challenges still facing China, from the disparity in development to environmental degradation.

Editor-in-chief of The Hindu N. Ram praised several recent Chinese initiatives, including the effectiveness of the stimulus package to combat the financial crisis. Almost all those who lost their jobs in export sectors have found new jobs or become entrepreneurs, he said. India also had a lot to learn from China’s internet penetration, he said.

Regarding the India-China relationship, Mr. Ram said that leaders on both sides may need to refrain from expressing formal, well-known differences between the two countries in high-profile public settings, as this may lead to misrepresentations in the media, as has happened recently with regard to alleged border incursions.

One of the high potential growth areas of the bilateral relationship is in education, and VIT University is a leading player in this space, with 400 Chinese students and India’s first Chinese language centre. VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan lauded China’s commitment to education, noting that 100 Chinese universities received a funding of Rs. 600 crore per year.

Tamil Nadu Congress president K.V. Thangkabalu said that despite a later start in the economic reform process, India was also following in the steps of China’s economic growth.

Ancient links

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy spoke of the ancient civilisational links between India and China, and said that both had the potential to return to their historical status as the economic powerhouses of the world.

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