Chinese premier Li Keqiang made a resounding case for greater partnership between India and China, and, for the first time for any major leader from across the Himalayas, obliquely referred to India’s burgeoning ties with the US, suggesting, without naming names, that it was a case of picking a distant relative over a neighbour.
“A country may choose its friends, but not its neighbours. As an ancient proverb says, a distant relative may not be as useful as a near neighbour. With a long border and extensive common interests, China and India should not seek cooperation from afar, while neglecting the partner close by,” Li said.
He was addressing a gathering of businessmen at an event organised by the Indian Council for World Affairs and the industry body, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. This was his first public event since arriving in India on Sunday.
He said his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were “candid, frank and fruitful”, adding that the two sides did not shy away from discussing the border question and had agreed to push forward negotiation. The two countries had the “wisdom” to find a solution to the border question, he said. “A few clouds in the sky cannot shut out brilliant sun rays of our friendship,” he said.
Li said he was confident that the persistent trade imbalance could be overcome and that a balanced trade relationship alone was sustainable. “I am confident that we have the ability to mitigate the trade imbalance between our two counties and China never has any intention to seek trade surplus.” He said he will work on improving market access for Indian firms and that negotiations on a regional free-trade agreement will be pursued.
Li struck the right opening note by saying ‘Namaste’, and then adding that he hadn’t had an opportunity to use the word in 27 years. He fondly recalled his visit to India as part of a youth delegation in 1986. “Twenty seven years ago I visited India and I was deeply impressed by India’s vast territory, time honoured civilisation as well as hardworking and talented people.”
His frankness and easy body language that Indian diplomats had found remarkable was on display for everyone. He said Indian songs, movies and yoga were popular in China the way Chinese food and Kung Fu were popular here. “The most important outcomes of these meetings we had were that we have expanded our strategic mutual trust and reached a number of new positive outcomes,” Li said. He illustrated the combined power of the two countries with an example: “If every one of our combined 2.5 billion population would buy a new mobile phone, it would blow up the order lists of IT manufacturers and operators in the world.”
Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequiang who met Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his delegation of state officials told them he was interested in the ongoing multicrore Mumbai makeover.
An official press release from the chief minister’s office said Kequiang had noted that Mumbai had undergone a sea change in the last 27 years, when he had visited last.
Kequiang was keen on learning about the state and Centre’s efforts for the Mumbai makeover. He also showed interest in the state policy of incentivising industries in backwards regions to spur employment.
The state had recently unveiled the new industrial policy that focuses on micro, small and medium enterprises, besides sectors like IT, manufacturing, automobile etc.
The visit of the Chinese premier is being read as a feather in the cap for Chavan given the competition from several states, including neighbouring Gujarat, to woo investors. Kequiang discussed issues mostly related to infrastructure and industry for 45 minutes.
Chavan highlighted the city’s big-ticket transport infrastructure projects and the proposed Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. He also offered to set up a special investment zone for Chinese companies interested in investing in the state.
Four major Chinese companies have already invested in Maharashtra. Chinese auto major Deigue Foton has recently set up a unit for production of utility vehicles at Chakan, an automobile hub near Pune.
Chavan said the Chinese premier’s visit, like that of British prime minister and the French president to Mumbai to explore investment opportunities, has been an endorsement of development in the state.
“The Chinese delegation was interested in investing in and around Pune and expressed special interest in automobile sector and setting up of an industrial township around the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor,” said a senior bureaucrat present in the meeting.
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