JOIN USThe visit of Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao may not have helped much to ease India’s concerns over Beijing’s actions and policies relating a number of issues which are important to New Delhi. Beijing also may have been disappointed by the cold response it received from India for its proposal for a trade agreement. India also did not mention its commitment to a one-China policy, though its significance need not be exaggerated. But the positive and optimistic atmosphere that prevailed and the improvements, though only small and nuanced, in some positions are good signs. Wen said that India and China are not rivals but partners, and prime minister Manmohan Singh said that there is enough space for both countries to grow.
The visit did not have great political results. India’s unhappiness over the China issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir has not been removed, though Wen himself raised the issue and has promised some action. He has assured India that it would not be adversely affected by the construction of dams on rivers in Tibet. China persistently refuses to acknowledge the role of Pakistan in promoting terrorism against India. Beijing’s position on India’s claim for a permanent UN Security Council seat has only slightly shifted in India’s favour. In spite of all this, the visit was a confidence-booster. The joint statement promised a strategic consensus on contentious issues ‘on the basis of mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns and aspirations.’ All outstanding issues of contention can be resolved if this principle is applied to them.
The focus of the visit, however, was on business and commerce and not on politics. Both countries have agreed to expand trade from the present $60 billion to $100 billion by 2015. It might be achieved even earlier but India’s concern is that it is heavily skewed in favour of China. Wen has promised to redress this with greater market access for Indian goods and services. The fact that 40 MoUs involving billions of dollars were signed underlines the nature of emerging bilateral relationship. The visit certainly helped to stop a perceived slide in relations and draw attention to the benefits to be derived from co-operation. The strength of a bilateral relationship lies in making the best of the commonalities. A framework for continuous mutual engagement, which has been put in place, will help in that by promoting trust and understanding.