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India, China PMs meet |
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The Prime Ministers of India and China had a 40-minute meeting in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, on November 30 on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference with which both the countries have summit level relations. The India-China border issue, the progress made at the four rounds of talks so far between the Special Representatives of the two countries, the need to step up trade and business-to-business contacts were among the many topics taken up by the two leaders. The Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, set the tone by mouthing such flattering platitudes, as “when we shake hands, the whole world will watch”. When Dr. Manmohan Singh raised the boundary issue, the Chinese Premier who is expected to visit New Delhi in March next year said it was a complex issue which will take time to resolve. Dr Singh suggested that India and China should use “mutual accommodation” based on “ground realities” to resolve the boundary issue, a reference, in particular, to Beijing’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh. “We shall show accommodation but an accommodation must take into account ground realities”, Dr. Manmhoan Singh was quoted as telling the Chinese Premier.
Later, elaborating on Dr. Singh’s remarks regarding “ground realities” to resolve the boundary question, the National Security Advisor, J.N. Dixit, said it referred to the Chinese advocacy in Arunachal Pradesh, indicating that China should accept he North-eastern state as an integral part of India. China claims sovereignty over a large section of Arunachal Pradesh which shares a 1030 km border with Tibet.
Manmohan Singh used the opportunity to ask about China’s commitment during former Prime Minister Vajpayee’s visit to Beijing last year, to recognize that Sikkim is an integral part of India. “Yes, that decision has already been taken”, said Wen Jiabao. Dixit said afterwards, that was more than enough for us. The Chinese Premier refrained this time from reiterating China’s concern about the Dalai Lama and the activities of Tibetans in India. On trade, Wen Jiabao’s conviction was that its volume will increase with the increasing people-to-people contacts. Separately, as part of efforts to prepare a blueprint for enhancing bilateral trade ties, the Sino-India Joint Study Group (JSG) on Trade and Economic Cooperation opened a working-level meeting in Beijing to discuss the possibility of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Political observers say the talks between the two Prime Ministers are bound to bring their countries closer. Even if the two Prime Ministers did not come out with dramatic announcements, it is clear from what they said after the meeting that New Delhi and Beijing have begun trusting each other in great measure and believing in mutual keenness to build a relationship befitting for Asia’s two emerging giants placed next to each other. The element of trust prevailing in the meeting was evident from the fact that the Chinese Premier did not rub in the Tibet question as was the experience in previous encounters. India has always maintained that Tibet is an Autonomous Region of China, implying that it is a part of China. During his visit to Beijing former Prime Minister Vajpayee made it known India’s categorical position that Tibet is a part of China and also that India would not allow Tibetans in India to indulge in political activity. China in return amended its maps showing Sikkim as a part of India. In Laos India is believed to have pointed out that it was time Beijing formally made the announcement about it. Wen’s response was somewhat positive and it is possible Wen may make such an announcement during his visit to India in March 2005. While details are yet to filter down, it is plain that the border dispute remains fairly on the backburner. While New Delhi is happy at the progress the relations between India and China have made in the recent years, it certainly would like the border question to get out of the way at the earliest. The Special Representatives of the two countries have met four times, but it appears they would need greater political support from the high-ups to resolve the differences. Dixit and China’s Bingguo may have to meet again quite a few times before the two countries come to an agreement.
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