The Hindu : National : Panchsheel is relevant, says Natwar Singh

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Tuesday, Jun 29, 2004

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National

Panchsheel is relevant, says Natwar Singh

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28.

The former President, K. R. Narayanan, being welcomed by the Minister for External Affairs, Natwar Singh, and the Minister for Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran, at a function got up to release a Special Cover on "50 Years of Panchsheel" in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: V. V. Krishnan

It is not often that you find a former President, five Cabinet Ministers, a Chief Minister, a Lieutenant Governor and over 20 Ambassadors/High Commissioners in one place.

It happened at a function organised by the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, to release a "special cover" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Panchsheel (five principles) at the banquet hall of the Ashoka Hotel here today.

On June 28, 1954, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his visiting Chinese counterpart, Zhou Enlai, issued a joint statement elaborating their vision of Panchsheel — mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

The "special cover" was released in the presence of the former President, K.R. Narayanan, the Communications Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, the Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh, and Mr. Natwar Singh.

The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, and the Lieutenant Governor, B. L. Joshi, attended the function. Mr. Maran described the release of the special cover as a "historic moment."

The Chinese, French, German, Russian, European Union and Palestinian Ambassadors, the British High Commissioner and several envoys from African countries attended the function.

The Foreign Secretary, Shashank, the Foreign Secretary-designate, Shyam Saran, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Shivshankar Menon, and The Hindu 's Editor-in-Chief, N. Ram, were also present.

At a reception after the release of the "special cover", Mr. Singh interacted with the guests, singling out V.V. Paranjape, who was the interpreter for the Nehru-Zhou meeting in 1954.

`Framework'

In his speech, Mr. Singh made it clear that Panchsheel was envisaged as a `framework' not just for India- China relations but for their relations with all other countries.

"It is appropriate, therefore, that China and India have decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Panchsheel this year in a befitting manner. Our leaders have exchanged messages today, felicitating each other on this memorable occasion."

He said that there were theories that globalisation would extinguish national sovereignty and diversity.

"Some fear the emergence of [a] monolithic world system. It is our view that such theories are unsustainable and antithetical to a democratic world order."

Mr. Singh said the relevance of Panchsheel was in the strength it lent to the voice of nations, big and small, in articulating their concerns and interests in the new international order.

"...The fulcrum of political and economic activity in the world is shifting towards Asia.

It is widely acknowledged that the future of Asia cannot be delinked from the future of India and China. This, I think, is a positive force. Both countries, with economic strength and constructive diplomacy, can contribute not only to the overall peace and stability of the world but also to improving the lot of humanity in every sphere."

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, had conveyed Beijing's desire to work with New Delhi to develop deeper relations during a recent meeting, Mr. Singh said.

"I also told him that the new Government in India will continue the process of normalising, strengthening and expanding the relations with China.

It will be, at the same time, our endeavour to address all outstanding issues in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner."

Down memory lane

It was a walk down memory lane for the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, who clearly has a fund of stories to tell from his years in the Indian Foreign Service.

His subject today was a 1957 photograph that found place in a souvenir released to mark the 50 years of Panchsheel in which Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and the Vice-President, S. Radhakrishnan, among others, can be seen.

Why was the photograph in the souvenir? "That's because I am in it," Mr. Singh said much to the amusement of the audience at the Ashoka Hotel. But, he did not stop there.

Pointing out that he was witness to the Vice-President's meeting with Chairman Mao, he said Dr. Radhakrishnan patted Mao on his cheek. "There was a moment of stunned disbelief. And, then Dr. Radhakrishnan said: `Mr. Chairman, don't look so alarmed, I've done the same thing to the Pope and to Stalin' ".

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