NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China later this month, India has said better relations and understanding with the country will pave the way for ‘Asian Century’ becoming a reality.
“We have an important strategic partnership. We are looking at important economic collaboration,” Khurshid said, talking about the promises Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing later this month holds.
“We want to collaborate with China on the International sphere. Better relations with China and a better understanding with China will give the Asian Century opportunity to become a reality,” he told while returning from a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.
The External Affairs Minister said India was looking forward to greater investments from China.
“We are opening up to China, China has a lot of funds to invest. We are hoping that China and India can work together in inwards investment into India through special economic industrial zones for China,” he said.
On being asked whether India should tell China to “walk the talk” on border negotiations, Khurshid said, “I think we do. Intemperate language is not necessarily the best way of conveying a firm point of view that there are some preconditions.”
“Don’t forget that the talk that takes place, one of the objectives of the talk is to have peace and tranquility on the border,” he said.
Khurshid asserted that there was an effective system for peace and tranquility on the border with China and therefore there has been no casualty on the border for several years.
“There have been events that disturb us, but events that are of a transitory nature and at the end of the day there is no permanent loss and since there are no casualties we can say that the peace and tranquility mechanism that we have is working,” he said.
There have been several instances of incursions by Chinese troops along the LAC this year.
Khurshid said the two sides were now looking at improving that mechanism and making it more effective.
“We are still in the process of trying to find solutions. I don’t think we should get disappointed and give up soon,” he added.
India asserts that the boundary dispute covered about 4000 kilometres, while China claims that it is confined to about 2000 kilometres to the area of Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers as Southern Tibet.
Special Representatives of India and China have held 16 rounds of boundary talks to resolve the contentious issue.
During his China visit beginning October 22, Singh will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on key bilateral and regional issues, including trans-border rivers, ways to enhance Chinese investments through industrial parks to address trade deficit and boundary incidents.
The two sides are also expected to ink the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement which is aimed to enhance coordination between the armies of the two countries. (agencies)
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