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Wound caused by 1962 conflict with China has healed: Kalam

Amit Baruah

"Our national aim is the coming together of these two Asian powers"

— PHOTO: PTI

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to an Indian School in Singapore on Thursday.

SINGAPORE: President Abdul Kalam said here on Thursday that the wound caused by the 1962 conflict between China and India had healed and the two countries were now working together in trade and business.

"Our national aim is the coming together of the two Asian powers," the President stressed during a discussion with a group of intellectuals at the Shangri La Hotel.

Pointing out that there was a "spiritual connectivity" between India, China and the South-East Asian countries, Mr. Kalam said the challenge was to "trigger" this connectivity. While China had the vision of becoming a "powerful nation," India had a vision of becoming a "developed nation."

(Earlier, in an address to schoolchildren, the President ruled out the prospect of India and Pakistan's re-unification but said a "federation" between the two countries was possible.)

Asked about the prospect of an Asian union, Mr. Kalam said this was a "definite possibility." However, the President favoured taking a step-by-step approach towards such a union. First, the President said, India, China and South-East Asia could create a single economic zone and then "slowly you can go to the Middle East [West Asia]."

On the agitation by airport workers against privatisation in Delhi and other places, he said that long as India was a democracy, the Government was accountable to the people.

"What is right for a large number of people, we have to do," the President said, assuring his audience that there was "no need" to be scared by differences of opinion. "Difference [of opinion] is a sign of a healthy society."

Pointing out that development of airports was important for India, Mr. Kalam said, "Naturally, our airports have to improve ... we will convince our working friends."

Asked to comment on U.S. President George W. Bush's comments that America was "addicted" to oil and the implications for oil-guzzling countries like China and India, the President said he favoured "energy independence" for India.

Renewable source

Supporting the use of renewable sources of energy like solar power and bio-fuels, Mr. Kalam said thorium-based nuclear power was a viable option for a country like India, as it had rich thorium resources.

Pointing out that the process of generating nuclear energy from thorium was going on, the President added that energy independence was important given the rising prices of oil in the international market.

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