Vaulting over The Wall

The minister8217;s recent visit to China, by all accounts, was a very successful one 8212; in both substantial and symbolic terms. The hiccups caused by May 1998 had been rapidly overcome the same year. The Indian foreign minister was welcomed in Beijing with warmth during the middle of the Kargil War, although many in India missed the symbolism of that moment. There has been a remarkable improvement in India-China ties since then, although many issues remain unresolved. Besides this, trade between the two countries has shown a consistent and near-dramatic growth.

There is no doubt that movement on the unresolved issue of the demarcation of the Line of Actual Control has been slower than what most Indians would like to see. Fernandes would no doubt have impressed upon his hosts the need to accelerate the process. But there are other areas also where the potential for co-operation has yet to be fully realised. Both countries suffer from the consequences of terrorism from across the borders fed by ethno-religious extremism and the visit was no doubt used to discuss strategies to deal with it in future. The visit has re-affirmed that relations between the two big powers of Asia would shape peace, prosperity and stability in the region and the world in the future.