The two emerging countries are much talked about in the
media.
Among developing countries, China absorbs the largest volume of
foreign direct investment while India is the first destination for
IT outsourcing.
In the past few years, the two economies with the world's
largest populations have been modernizing fast at an eye-catching
rate.
Giant as they are, the two are not necessarily rivals.
Chinese-made toys, toasters and televisions have proliferated
across the Indian marketplace. India exports raw materials for
China's booming construction industry.
While President Hu Jintao tours India, the two countries have
mapped out a new drive to promise a new era of peace and
prosperity. The visit will steer the bilateral ties in a more
vibrant and forward-looking direction.
The joint declaration and deals inked by the two countries
Tuesday in New Delhi map out their vision for the future,
qualitatively upgrading bilateral relations to a strategic
level.
Hu's ongoing trip is the most important event on the calendar
for the year as he is the first Chinese president visiting India in
a decade.
It marks a major milestone in bilateral relations, which have
reached a certain level of maturity.
Hu's meetings with a wide range of Indian dignitaries including
Indian Prime Minister Monmonhan Singh will forge greater
understanding of respective positions on issues bilateral, regional
and international.
Guided by the increasing trust they place in each other, the
effort of China and India to lend a strategic dimension to the
relationship assumes significance.
The two countries are willing to explore ways to enhance mutual
engagement on pressing issues while continuing to address
contentious aspects such as the boundary dispute.
China and India realize the importance of not letting
contentious issues get in the way of taking forward the bilateral
relationship. Early settlement of the border issue is a strategic
goal the two countries have been working hard for. China is always
clear on negotiations so as to work out a fair and sensible
solution acceptable to both.
Relations between the two countries have flourished in recent
years, led primarily by trade. The two countries work towards
strengthening economic ties, which have grown significantly in the
recent past.
The warmth in bilateral ties was also felt when the two
countries designated 2006 the year for China-India Friendship.
Aware of their linked destinies as neighbors and the two largest
countries of Asia, both sides agreed that they would, together,
contribute to the establishment of an atmosphere of mutual
understanding, trust and co-operation in Asia and the world at
large.
(China Daily November 22, 2006)
