China envoy visits India to boost relations

NEW DELHI -- China's foreign minister met with his Indian counterpart Sunday, hoping that his two-day visit with India's new leaders will improve stalled trade between the Asian nations and ease decades of tensions between them.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which took power late last month, for its "sincerity and enthusiasm" in immediately reaching out to China and other countries, according to an interview published Sunday in The Hindu newspaper.

"India was a cradle of splendid ancient civilization, and I am glad to see this country gaining new vigor and vitality," Wang said. "The international community, impressed by the great opportunities in India, is full of confidence in the future of the country."

India has long been cautious in its relationship with China because of worries about Beijing's growing power as well as a decades-old border dispute. During the election campaign, Modi said India did not want a war with China but would be prepared to deal with what he called Beijing's possible expansionist designs.

However, Modi -- who campaigned largely on promises of economic growth -- surprised Indians by focusing his first week in office on foreign relations with India's neighbors, including Pakistan, its traditional archrival. For the first time, India invited South Asian leaders to the prime minister's inauguration.

The move had the double effect of distracting the Indian public from election-time divisions and confirming India's key role in the region. It also set the stage for Wang's visit, signaling China and India could grow closer.

Wang met Sunday with India's foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, and planned to meet with Modi today.

Given China's dominance in the global economy, Modi is expected to court Beijing's help in reviving India's economy.

Trade between China and India also has stalled, falling to $65 billion last year, with China enjoying a $48 billion surplus.

India may look to China for lessons on manufacturing, which makes up only 15 percent of India's economy, compared with 31 percent in China. Enticing foreign investment and factories is seen as crucial for creating jobs in India, where around 13 million youths are entering the labor market each year.

Wang said that India and China were close to deals setting up China-dedicated industrial parks in India, but that China was still hoping for more preferential policies.

He also dismissed the idea that the "difficult" dispute over their 2,500-mile Himalayan border should get in the way of improving relations. Seventeen rounds of talks have failed to resolve the dispute.

"Even if we could not resolve it for the time being, we could at least manage it effectively, not allowing it to affect the normal development of our relations," Wang told The Hindu.

China claims around 35,000 square miles of land in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, while India says China is occupying 15,000 square miles of territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas.

A Section on 06/09/2014

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