Indian, Chinese leaders seek close ties

Despite the recent chill in Sino-Indian ties over the festering border disputes, there was a sense of bonhomie when leaders of the ruling political parties of the two Asian neighbours met today at a seminar in Delhi to mark 60 years of establishing bilteral diplomatic ties.

Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent comments about the world being large enough to accommodate the aspirations of the two emerging giants, S M Krishna, India's External Affairs minister, wondered whether the two nations were making the best use of the opportunities.

Inaugurating the seminar, organised by India's ruling Congress party and the Communist Party of China to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Krishna revealed that a hotline would soon be operational enabling direct communication between the premiers of India and China.

''While we accept that there are outstanding issues between the two large countries, we have to address each other's concerns and sensitivities on issues impinging each other's security and well-being," noted Krishna. ''China should provide a level-playing field to Indian companies, especially in the pharma and IT sectors, where we face barriers restricting market access.''

As rising powers, India and China are being seen as sharing a competitive relationship. ''It is up to us to disapprove such a scenario by presenting examples of concrete partnership,'' he remarked.

According to the Indian external affairs minister, both countries faced similar challenges including on issues relating to globalisation, food and energy security and inclusive growth and skills development. ''Our economic engagement needs to go beyond trade,'' he declared.