Build relations on common ground

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is visiting China at a crucial time, both for China and India.

China is preparing for the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China's Central Committee, at which the government will set the tone for future reforms.

Most importantly, they will map out how to reorient growth toward domestic demand, consumption and services, while making efforts to overhaul the country's industrial structure. India, on the other hand, is just months away from general elections, which could result in a changing of the guard.

There is, however, no reason to assume that the possibility of a leadership change in India makes Singh's visit any less important.

Being essentially an academic, Singh recognizes the increasing importance of China's regional and global role. He knows that China has stolen a march over India in the socio-economic field in the past few years, making redundant any comparison between the two countries.

China is way up on the economic ladder - indeed, it is an economic giant. It has taken measures to ensure that the fruits of economic growth and reform reach the poor.

Education is one field where the results of China's efforts, compared with India, are most astonishing. Household income is another area that China has worked wonders in.

Singh would like India to emulate the examples of China - at least in two fields. Perhaps he will focus, among other things, on these two aspects when he speaks at the Party School in Beijing on Thursday. And perhaps Singh will encapsulate his vision for India - and possibly his legacy.

There are other more pressing issues that Singh will discuss with China's top leaders. The two sides will take stock of their strengths and weaknesses, reassess their agreements and differences and review their shared concerns.

China's strength lies, most of all, in its political system, which allows it to implement its economic and other programs with remarkable effect.

The dispute between the two countries is mainly over their border and, as its offshoot, in the sharing of river waters and visa problems.

What could make China-India combine into a formidable force is their agreements and shared concerns. Both agree that bilateral trade should not only continue but also increase because trade is at the core of their relationship.

Both agree that the United Nations should have the last word when it comes to taking action against a country, and both believe in non-interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country. Both oppose the big-brotherly attitude of the US-led West in international trade, especially government subsidies.

Both are old civilizations with modern aspirations, and both have huge populations to feed and take care of. The list can go on.

Let's accept it, the border dispute between the two countries will not be resolved during Singh's visit. In fact, it is not expected to be resolved in the near future because of its complicated nature. China, like any other country, will try to protect its interests in any resolution to the dispute. So would India. The impasse, as a result, is likely to continue.

The need, therefore, is to ensure that the dispute does not erupt into a full-blown conflict. In other words, the need is to put the dispute on the back burner and concentrate on points of agreement and shared concern.

Their shared concerns have prompted China and India to strengthen BRICS, work together at UN, WTO and climate change negotiations. Negotiations at the WTO and climate change conferences are somewhat related, and so are deliberations at the UN.

If that is so, China and India have much in common with Russia. Indeed, the three countries are forming some sort of a partnership to respond situations across the world that are explosive or potentially so.

It is in these areas of agreement that Singh is likely to focus during his visit to China, especially after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before his flight to Beijing.

And if Singh does focus on building consensus with China, he will leave a workable legacy for the next generation of Indian leaders to follow.

Contact the writer at oprana@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/23/2013 page18)