adminBEIJING. — History can be made in a moment, especially when two of the world’s most populated nations are determined to do so. As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shook hands in Beijing and cheered exchange of visits, the two Asian giants have come to a common view of facing up to the future, rather than looking back.
Both premiers hold a clear vision about where the biggest potential of China-India relations lies and are committed to realizing the global prominence of the strategic partnership.
“China-India relations have gone far beyond bilateral scope and have global and strategic significance,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Singh.
“When India and China shake hands, the world notices,” the Indian prime minister responded.
The two sides vowed to strengthen co-ordination and co-operation in multilateral forums including China-Russia-India, the Brics and G20.
As two emerging economies that accommodate more than one-third of the world’s population, both China and India are working on a new set of rules that will not only lay a smooth track for bilateral ties, but also help reshape the world.
And they do have the potential for success. In 1954, the prime ministers of China and India issued a joint declaration to officially designate the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel) as guidelines for bilateral relations. These principles have been widely recognised as norms of international relations over the past six decades.
In a joint statement released yesterday, the two sides re- affirmed to maintain the friendly relationship by following the principles and “displaying mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns and aspirations”.
In a bid to build greater trust and confidence, China and India signed a Border Defence Co-operation Agreement in Beijing yesterday. Both sides hailed the agreement as a powerful tool to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border, a “foundation” for the growth of China-India relationship.
In a move that may change the geo-political map in Asia and the world, China and India decided to move ahead with preparation for the BCIM Economic Corridor that compasses Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar. China expressed readiness to step up investment, railway construction and industrial zone development in the region. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter