People's Democracy

 EDITORIAL

Progress In India-China Relations

THE visit of prime minister Vajpayee to China, the first by an Indian prime minister in a decade, has resulted in significant measures to deepen ties between the two giant Asian countries and neighbours. For the first time, the two countries have signed a joint declaration. Nine agreements were signed covering cross border trade, easing visa restrictions, judicial cooperation, for setting up cultural centres and cooperation in renewable energy resources. The joint declaration on principles for relations and comprehensive cooperation signifies an important stage in the relations between the two countries.

The joint declaration spells out the framework for friendship and cooperation which is to promote the socio-economic development of both countries; maintain peace and stability regionally and globally; strengthen multipolarity at the international level and to enhance the positive features of globalisation. The declaration proceeds to set out the principles for cooperative partnership based on the “panchsheel” principles and states that the common interests of the two sides outweigh their differences. “The two countries are not a threat to each other”. This sentence should help extinguish the talk of China being a threat to India’s security. In order to help resolve the border dispute the two sides decided to appoint a special representative each to provide a political perspective to the overall bilateral relationship to arrive at a framework for a boundary settlement. As part of this decision, Brijesh Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister and Dai Bingguo, vice minister of foreign affairs have been appointed.

The discussions between the Indian prime minister and the Chinese leadership consisting of premier Wen Jiabao, president Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission and other leaders displayed the determination of the two sides to pursue strengthening of relations and cooperation. The agreement on cross border trade through the Nathula pass in Sikkim is one such step. While India has always maintained that Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China, the assertion in the joint declaration that India “does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India” should help clear any misunderstanding on this issue. The acceptance by China of border trade through Sikkim is also an acknowledgement of India’s concerns on Sikkim.

The most promising outcome of the visit is the opening up of vistas for economic cooperation. Last year trade between India and China was worth $5 billion and in the first four months of this year alone that trade grew by 70 per cent. Though the basis for this growth has been rather low, it shows the potential how the two countries can benefit from the complimentaries that exist between the two economies. In this connection the Vajpayee visit has led to a joint study group being set up of economists and officials to identify new areas of economic cooperation.

In the context of the present world situation with the growing aggressiveness and unilateralism of the United States in its quest for global hegemony, strengthening of ties between India and China is extremely important.  It will be in India’s interests to seriously build upon the initiatives taken during the Vajpayee visit.  But for this, the BJP-led government has to desist from its one-sided pro-American worldview. It should realise that India’s interests lie in the development of a multipolar world and to go towards such a situation the growing cooperation and common understanding between India and China is an important element.