Durban conversation

In his first meeting with new Chinese President Xi Jinping,on the margins of the BRICS summit in Durban,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rightly adopted a forward-leaning attitude without ducking the many challenges that hobble the bilateral relationship. Reportedly,the prime minister underlined the special importance that India attaches to the relationship with China,a large neighbour,leading trade partner and formidable military power. At the same time,he touched on a range of problems that the two sides must purposefully address. These include Indias concerns about Chinas dam-building on the Brahmaputra River,the instability in Tibet and Beijings strategic partnership with Pakistan,to name only a few.

In his own remarks to the international media before heading to Durban,Xi had outlined a similar balanced framework for Chinas ties with India that calls for a sober handling of political differences,respect for each others core concerns,and promotion of greater economic cooperation. While India has many difficulties with China,New Delhi must recognise that Beijing is preoccupied with problems of a much greater magnitude including the intensification of territorial disputes with its East Asian neighbours and an increasingly tense relationship with the US and might not be averse to building a productive relationship with India.

While a border settlement may not be likely in the near future,the prime minister must focus on strengthening peace and tranquillity on the border and making the long frontier with China a zone of commercial prosperity. Delhi must grab the opportunities for mobilising Chinas massive capital surpluses to accelerate Indias economic growth while pressing for a balanced bilateral trade that is currently tilted so much in Beijings favour. India must also take up Xis offer to deepen military exchanges. Equally important is a joint Sino-Indian effort to promote peace in the shared but increasingly volatile periphery in Asia. The Durban conversation is only the first of the many between Singh and Xi,who will lead China for the next decade and is fully conscious of Beijings growing global weight. Singhs engagement with Xi in the coming months will hopefully leave a pragmatic,purposeful and self-confident China policy that his successors can build upon.