India, China ready to develop ties

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, JAN. 12. Reaffirming that China did not pose a threat to India, the visiting Chinese leader, Mr. Li Peng, stressed the importance of Sino-Indian cooperation in the changed international situation.

Mr. Li, number two in the Chinese political hierarchy, pointed to the dangers of hegemonism in the world and the significance of friendly ties between the two Asian giants in the creation of a multipolar world. In his wide-ranging interaction with the Indian leadership today, Mr. Li conveyed a very simple message - the need to take a ``longer term view'' of bilateral relations and the strong desire at the highest political level in China to develop productive ties with India.

A senior official in the Foreign Office summed up the talks as ``good, warm and friendly'' and said they reflected a ``willingness on both sides to take the relationship forward''.

Both sides agreed that the many outstanding problems in the relationship should not be allowed to come in the way of improvement in other areas, the official said. At the same time, the two sides expressed their political will to address difficult issues, including the boundary dispute, he added.

Mr. Li, on a nine day tour of India, called on the President Mr. K. R. Narayanan, this evening. The meeting was described as very ``cordial''. Mr. Narayanan, who was India's Ambassador to China during the late 1970s, is highly regarded in Beijing. His visit to China last May had ended the chill in bilateral relations that followed the Indian nuclear tests of May 1998. Mr. Li also compared notes with the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh. During the talks, Mr. Singh spoke of the need for a ``fair, reasonable and just'' settlement of the boundary dispute. The issue also figured in the talks between Mr. Li and the President.

According to the Foreign Office official, both sides agreed to find ways to resolve the issue and that the recent exchange of maps on the boundary was ``a positive development''.

Mr. Li also held talks with Dr. Najma Heptullah, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, who later hosted a reception for him. Referring to the common threat faced by India and China from international terrorism and religious extremism, Dr. Heptullah called for Sino-Indian cooperation in tackling these dangers.

Mr. Li expressed satisfaction at the broad improvement in relations and referred to the considerable economic progress made by India in the last decade but did not address the question of international terrorism. Earlier this morning, the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, called on the Chinese leader.

Mr. Li will deliver a speech tomorrow at the India International Centre here. He will visit Agra on Sunday and meet the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, on Monday before leaving for Bangalore.

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