India and China seal 'strategic partnership' By Amelia Gentleman International Herald Tribune Tuesday, April 12, 2005
NEW DELHI India and China, the world's two emerging economic superpowers, signed an agreement for a "strategic partnership for peace and prosperity" on Monday, signaling a new determination on both sides to soften decades of hostile relations. . At a meeting in New Delhi, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, signed a series of accords aimed at ending a decades-old boundary dispute and improving economic ties. . China was also understood to have promised to back India's bid for permanent membership on an expanded United Nations Security Council, although this support was not detailed in the published agreements. . There was some skepticism among diplomatic analysts in India over whether the substance of the border agreement matched enthusiastic assertions made before the deal. But taken as a whole, the accords clearly signaled a positive, potentially historic shift in relations between the two Asian giants, away from suspicion and toward greater cooperation. . A statement declared that the agreement would help the two countries in "jointly addressing global challenges and threats." . The initiative was seen as a reflection of both countries' desire to strengthen Asia's position on the world stage to match the power of its booming economies. . "This is an important visit," Wen said after a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi. . "We are working to promote friendly ties of cooperation between our two countries." . Singh said, "India and China can together reshape the world order." . The 11 agreements included a three-stage road map aimed at resolving the dispute over the neighbors' 3,500-kilometer, or 2,200-mile, Himalayan border, which has troubled relations since the two countries fought a short war over the boundary in 1962. But while this was heralded as one of the encounter's major breakthroughs, it represented only an edging forward of talks that have been going on for 24 years. . No precise details of how the dispute would be settled were given. The statement merely emphasized that both India and China would have to make "meaningful and mutually acceptable adjustments to their respective positions." . Hinting that there would be much more intense negotiation before a definitive solution was reached, the accord stressed that the border issue would not be permitted to sour broader relations between China and India. . "The differences on the boundary question should not be allowed to affect the overall development of bilateral relations," the agreement said. . "The final solution of the boundary question will significantly promote good neighborly and friendly relations between India and China." . India's national security adviser, M.K. Narayanan, who was involved in drafting the road map, said earlier in an interview with Star television that this was "one of the most significant documents that have been signed between the two countries." . "We are very hopeful that this document would be the starting point of a major process in the settlement of the boundary dispute between India and China," he said. "There is a great desire on the part of both India and China to forget some of the past mistakes or past historical legacies and move forward to a new relationship." . But Muchkund Dubey, a former foreign secretary and an expert on international relations, was dubious about the likely substance of the border accord. . "I don't think a mere agreement on guiding principles should be regarded as a breakthrough," he said. "These guiding principles are O.K. as far as they go, but how they are to be implemented on the ground is another matter. It's not going to be easy." . However, he conceded that the relationship between India and China was strengthening, as Beijing became conscious of India's increasing global significance. . Brahma Chellaney, a professor in strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research, was even less upbeat about the content of the accords. . "This trip has been strong on hype, but low in terms of the expected results," he said. "We're seeing a lot of talk of principles and ideals and intent to move forward but not much substance." . Wen and his 130-strong team also discussed ways to expand bilateral trade. Until recently, trade between India and China had been relatively modest - less than $3 billion in 2000 - but the two leaders agreed to increase it to $20 billion by 2008. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! 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