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Indian envoy sees new level of cooperation with China

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India is planning a series of major activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Indian ambassador to China, told China.org.cn yesterday.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, Indian ambassador to China, is interviewed by China.org.cn in Beijing on February 2, 2010. [China.org.cn]

"It is important to develop our relations with China in a much fuller manner than we have done so far," Dr. Jaishankar said. "If we actually develop business on the one side, and culture on the other, we'll create the basis for a new level of cooperation between India and China."

The ambassador is bullish about trade with China. In 2008, bilateral trade between China and India reached 51.8 billion US dollars, and China became India's biggest trading partner. China maintained its level of exports to India despite the global downturn.

"On the whole, the trade cooperation between the two counties is good," said the ambassador. But he added that "India should do better" in expanding exports to China, especially from its strong and competitive information technology and pharmaceuticals industries.

The ambassador said that as major countries with fast-growing economies, the two neighbors should strengthen bilateral relations and cooperate on global issues, such as climate change. "We can coexist next to each other; we can do business with each other actively; and we can go all out to explore all possibilities in the relationship."

India is planning a series of cultural activities this year to introduce Indian culture to Chinese people. During the "The Year of India in China", performances will be staged, in Beijing, Shanghai, and many other cities around China. More than 25 business-related events will also be held, Dr. Jaishankar said.

The ambassador said border issues will not be an obstacle to improving relations, adding that great progress has been made over the past 20 years. The two countries have reached a number of agreements on the border issue and continue to hold regular talks. "The progress of the relationship between these two countries will not be held hostage by the issue," said Dr. Jaishankar.

Dr. Jaishankar said that in the six months he has been in China, he has found ordinary Chinese people have similar hopes and dreams as Indian people. People from both countries just want a better life.

"If we can actually communicate with each other, we could build a great sense of affinity between the two countries," said the ambassador, "We are too fixated in the public debates in the media on what are the issues between us. I think we really need to pay attention to what we have in common."

China and India established diplomatic ties on April 1, 1950. To mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries are organizing a "Year of China in India" and a "Year of India in China". Indian President Pratibha Patil will visit China in the middle of the year and Foreign Minister S M Krishna will visit China in April.