The Hindu : China upbeat on ties with India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2003

International

International

China upbeat on ties with India

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE April 8. China has envisioned the possibility of working in concert with India in the specific context of the present global complexities. Making an upbeat assessment of the country's equation with New Delhi at this moment, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing today that the two countries "should further their coordination and cooperation to contribute to regional and world peace and stability".

Responding to a question at a regular press conference, Mr. Liu Jianchao said China and its "important neighbouring nation" of India should coordinate their efforts for peace and stability in their compatible capacities as the world's two largest developing countries.

Expressing the hope that the two states would "enhance coordination and cooperation", Mr. Liu said the friendly tone in bilateral relations had continued to develop in recent years on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. He appreciated the positive remarks reported to have been made recently by the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, on the Sino-Indian relationship.

On the current surge in India-Pakistan tensions, Mr. Liu underlined that the "two important countries in South Asia" bore "great responsibility" to maintain regional peace and stability. China, he said, would hope that India and Pakistan could resolve their disputes properly through dialogue.

Answering a question, in the current context of threats and counter-threats from India and Pakistan about the importance of pre-emptive strikes on the defence capabilities of one or the other side, Mr. Liu said the conflicts between any two neighbouring countries "should be resolved through peaceful channels" and through "dialogue". By emphasising that China was opposed to the use of military force or the threat to use such force as strategic choices in international relations, he indicated Beijing's position on the notion of pre-emptive attacks in the immediate vicinity of China.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Iraqis struggle to recover bodies

'End game is near'

Saddam's fate unclear, says Bush

Hunt for regime targets will go on: U.S.

Chalabi flown into Iraq

Arabs call for U.N. meet

Snipers triggered U.S. action?

We will respond to Agni-III: Pak.

Ivanov cancels U.S. visit

Scholar who loved India

U.S. forces stumble upon weapons of mass destruction?

Endangered wild cattle cloned

China upbeat on ties with India

Report on sinking of Chinese trawler biased: Chandrika