China and India also have their differences of course and compete in many ways. While China and India are competitors in a global economy, there are also immense opportunities for cooperation and partnerships. India, for example, has a great need for infrastructure projects, including building cities - needs that play to Chinese strengths and expertise. Also, the combination of Indian software and Chinese hardware can compete with the world's best. China can also be a source of investment in India, which desperately requires foreign investment and technology, both of which China is very able to provide.

Both countries are also concerned about national, regional and international security. It is a very encouraging sign that India has recently applied for membership in the Shanghai Co-operation Organization.

It also happens to be the case that people in China and India love and excel at chess. Chess reputedly originated in India and this year China enjoyed historic success in the recent world championships, finishing first in the 41st Chess Olympiad last month in the men's competition and second in the women's. In India, chess remains very popular with Viswanathan Anand winning a recent world championship and Koneru Humpy presently ranked as one of the world's top women players.

As President Xi visits India, a different type of chess game will be played, and one with much higher stakes. In President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China and India both have visionary leaders dedicated to peace and the development of both their own countries and the region as a whole.

For the sake of our collective futures, I wish them every success and hope that this will be the beginning of an ever strengthening partnership that will result in better lives for billions of people in China and India.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/eugeneclark.htm

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