Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 24, 2003
India-China relations quite mature: Indian FM
The relations between India and China is already "quite mature", and the influence of such a relationship is "global", said Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh on November 22.
The relations between India and China is already "quite mature", and the influence of such a relationship is "global", said Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh on November 22.
Singh made the remark at the annual ceremony commemorating Khatri, an admiral who made distinguishable contributions to the construction of the Indian Navy. His speech was entitled "A mature India-China relationship and its influence on India and South Asia".
The India-China relations have been developing in recent years, and showed a tendency of diversification, Singh said. He specially mentioned the Indian Prime Minister's China tour last June, calling it a "historic visit". An important feature of India-China relations, he said, is that leaders from both sides have strong political wishes, and agree to solve differences by peaceful, rational means acceptable to both parties.
Talking about trade ties between the two countries, Singh said that the India-China trade volume rose from US$200 million in the early 1990s to US$5 billion last year, and is expected to reach US$7 billion this year. "The strengthening of trade and investment ties is not only of great economic significance, but injects stabilizer into the development of political relations", he pointed out.
The continuously strengthening cooperation between India and China in many fields will exert a far-reaching influence on the region, especially on developing countries, Singh said finally.
(Article on the third page of People's Daily, November 24; translated by PD Online staff member Li Heng.)