No quick solution to Sino-India border dispute
- By Chen Xia
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 22, 2013
There will be no quick solution to the long-standing border dispute between China and India, but the two countries have established a successful model in putting aside differences and seeking common interests, according to a former Chinese diplomat at a seminar on Sino-India relations held Monday in Beijing.
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A seminar on Sino-India relations was held by the Charhar Institute, the Beijing Foreign Studies University School of International Relations and Diplomacy and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)Monday in Beijing. |
"Despite the unresolved border issue, which may not get a quick solution in the near future, the border between China and India has remained peaceful and tranquil during the last three decades," said Mao Siwei, the former Consul General of China in Kolkata, capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, at a seminar co-sponsored by the Charhar Institute, the Beijing Foreign Studies University School of International Relations and Diplomacy and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
"It is a positive feature of the Sino-Indian relations that we can talk about the border issue and do business at the same time," Mao said.
China and India experienced a brief border conflict in 1962, and no gunshot has been fired between the two Asian powers during the past five decades. The two countries began holding meetings between special representatives in 2003 to discuss the border issue, and 15 rounds of discussion and debate have been held in the past 10 years.
Pending the border issue's final resolution, China and India should respect the status quo and observe an actual line of control, Mao suggested.
In Jan. 2012, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo published an article in the Indian newspaper "The Hindu," saying China is fully committed to developing long-term friendship and cooperation with India, and refuting allegations that China will "attack India" or "suppress India's development".
In December 2011, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued an unprecedented statement in parliament, saying that his government doesn't believe China is planning to attack India.
According to statistics, bilateral trade between China and India soared from about US$3 billion in 2001 to about US$80 billion in 2012. China has become India's largest trading partner, and India has become China's largest trading partner in South Asia.
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