The Hindu : International / India & World : Solution to boundary issue possible, says Wen Jiabao

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 04, 2005

International

International - India & World

Solution to boundary issue possible, says Wen Jiabao

BEIJING, APRIL 3. Suggesting that India and China should handle their relations from a "strategic high ground," the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, today said that a solution to the boundary issue was possible if the two sides showed mutual accommodation "while taking the reality into account."

Relations between the two countries have entered a "new period of comprehensive cooperation" which far outweighed differences, Mr. Wen said in a wide-ranging interview to PTI ahead of his four-day visit to India beginning on April 9.

"We both regard each other as important partners of exchange and cooperation enjoying growing political trust," said Mr. Wen, who will hold extensive parleys with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and other leaders.

Asked whether he saw a breakthrough in resolving the vexed boundary dispute in the near future, he said: "China and India have reached important consensus. That is, both sides should view and handle the relations from a strategic high ground bearing in mind the larger picture, and refuse to let questions left over from history disrupt and impede the development of bilateral relations." Discounting concerns voiced by the advocates of the so-called `China threat' campaign, he said both India and China were "sincere friends, not adversaries."

Peace prevails

Observing that peace and tranquillity have prevailed in the Sino-India border areas thanks to concerted efforts by both sides, Mr. Wen said that the Special Representatives on the boundary question have had four meetings, where the two sides conducted "useful" discussions on the political guiding principles with "sound progress."

"I believe that as long as the two sides act in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, respect history while taking the reality into account, they will be able to find a mutually acceptable solution to the boundary questions through negotiations on an equal footing," he said.

The Chinese Premier said he was ready to see a "greater role" for India in international arena, including the United Nations. "China supports reasonable and necessary reforms to the Security Council so that it will get a bigger representation, especially that of the developing countries. India is a major developing country that plays a positive role in regional and international affairs. I fully understand India's position as I am ready to see a greater role of India in international arena, the U.N. included."

India-Pakistan relations

Asked how he saw the recent developments in India-Pakistan ties, Mr. Wen said India and Pakistan were "important countries in the region and they both shoulder a major responsibility for stability and development in South Asia ... the leaders of the two countries set in motion their comprehensive dialogue and promoted regional cooperation with positive results. China welcomes and supports all these efforts," he said.

China, he said, hoped that India and Pakistan could keep up the momentum of their current dialogue, increase mutual trust and seek to resolve all their differences peacefully.

On reports that China was keen to join the SAARC, he said: "We are willing to join our neighbours in deepening good-neighbourliness and friendship and achieving common prosperity."

Brushing aside apprehensions that as strong rivals, economically and politically, India and China could never be true friends, he said: "There is no conflict of fundamental interests" between the two countries and both had a great deal to learn from each other.

— PTI

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