China has said it would expand exchanges with India in the coming year and look to improve mutual trust, even as India and China concluded the first meeting of a newly set up consultation and coordination mechanism on boundary issues here on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who visited India last week, said on Tuesday he had a "meeting of minds" with his counterpart S.M. Krishna in New Delhi, with both countries agreeing to bring about "continued and sound growth" in developing relations and increasing exchanges in the coming year, which will be marked as a year of friendship. He was in India last week to lay the groundwork for the visit of President Hu Jintao, who will attend the March 28 and 29 BRICS meeting in New Delhi,
During his visit, Mr. Yang signed an agreement to take forward maritime cooperation, and also confirmed the holding of first meeting of the working mechanism on boundary issues, which was held here on Monday and Tuesday.
The two countries agreed to set up a consultation and coordination mechanism following the 15th round of border talks held in New Delhi in January. The mechanism will study ways to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between military personnel, but it will not discuss the boundary issue.
The group held its first meeting here on Monday, and concluded its session on Tuesday.
Mr. Yang, the Foreign Minister, said both countries needed to "do the specifics very well" in implementing the agreements and taking relations forward.
The Chinese Foreign Minister was speaking during his annual interaction with journalists on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, the Chinese parliament.
This month's BRICS summit, he said, would take place against the backdrop of emerging economies playing a greater role in "making the international order more just and equitable", and he hoped the meeting would yield agreements between the five members on taking forward cooperation on finance and development.
Mr. Yang played down the renewed tensions seen last year between China and several of its neighbours, including India, Japan and many Southeast Asian countries which hold competing claims over the South China Sea.
Suggesting that the tensions had been exaggerated, he said: "Some countries in the world have megaphones, others only small microphones, and some have neither. I believe figures speak louder than words, and China is the biggest trading partner of many of our neighbours". Last year, trade between China and its Asian neighbours reached $ 1 trillion, he said, with Chinese investment in the region exceeding $ 20 billion.
Asked about Chinese concerns over the U.S. "pivot" to Asia and its strengthening of military alliances in the region, he said China and the U.S. had "more converging interests in the Asia-Pacific than any other part of the world". "We hope to see, and welcome, a constructive role by the U.S. in the region," he said.
He, did, however, add that China hoped the U.S. would "truly respect [our] core interests and concerns", and "honour its commitment and properly handle Taiwan and Tibet issues".
Keywords: India-China border talks
India has very limited choice as our resources are limited and our political system limits our over reach. Identify one enemy or a small group of nation (in this case 2 countries) and make your foreign policy based on those terms until you bring them to your knees. We have such a great advantage to china and Pakistan as these two nations are undemocratic and have serious flaws in their hold on power. Our association with right minded powers and strategic posturing should create waves in these countries. Unfortunately our inept, corrupt political system is not helping us to get anywhere. In fact these 2 authoritarian, thuggish militants are exploiting the very civil society of ours. It is time we address our systemic problem rather than trying to use band aid solutions. Isolate our enemies and pool in our resources along with other like minded powers and take a tough stance even if it means a short term pain for the nation. If we don't now then our next gen will pay the price. Wake up
I fully agree with the views of Mr. Raj.
Same song different lyrics! The Chinese always say “peace peace” and then build bases in our neighborhood, fund separatist groups in India, block India at international organizations, give Pakistan more weapons and target India with more military resources! If 1962 has taught India anything it is this – Never trust the Chinese! India needs to be always be ready to face china and defend the border against China. The Chinese only respect strength, everything else is weakness and the Chinese will bully the weak. If India is complacent about Chinese intentions, India will have only itself to blame when China occupies Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh and tells India to get lost. Already the Chinese are 'buying' Gilgit from Pakistan but India is silent. This is seen as weakness and will be used by China to legitimize its position.
I hope India has learned lessons of history. In the 1950s and early 1960s it was "India Chini bhai bhai". This was followed by a humiliating military defeat of India and Indian politicians and generals are still frightened of China. The "2012 year of friendship between China and India" is a good slogan. But India should improve its infrastructure in the border regions and train and strengthen its armed forces for a war in difficult mountain regions.
Great quote "2012 year of friendship between China and India". This Consultation and cooperation should not stop only for maritime purpose, it should be extended to business purpose also.
first let them give Indians proper visas not stapled ones. chinese are said to have no ethics
The Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna is a wise man, and we, the citizen of India, proud to have such minister in our country, I really appreciate the way he deals with the issues and take wise decisions.
I think India and China need to co-operate with each other more and more because not only are these two countries the world's fastest growing economies but also the current scenario of financial crisis makes the partnership even more important. India and China need to understand each other's importance only then can they build a strong foundation for mutual understanding.
China wants the US to respect its sovereignty and properly handle sensitive issues like Tibetan separation movement!!But has the Chinese minister ever acknowledged the fact that his government itself is doing the same thing with India. China's unfair claim over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is an unwanted intrusion to our svereignty.So please practice what you preach..!!!
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