Neighbors can usher in the Asian century

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China from Thursday to Saturday. This reciprocal visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to India last September will further contribute to the amicable relations of the two large neighbors and deepen cooperation between the two emerging economies in an all-round way.

Xi'an, capital of Xi's home province, will be the first stop for Modi on Thursday, signaling the two sides' willingness to cultivate a close friendship at the highest level.

During his trip, Modi is expected to have in-depth exchange of views with Chinese leaders on issues of mutual concern. The two leaders will draw a blueprint for closer collaboration in the future, which will be conducive to the common development and prosperity of the two neighbors and the region at large.

In an interview with Chinese media on the eve of his visit, Modi said he wants to focus on how India and China can further strengthen mutual trust and confidence, so as to realize the full potential of their relationship.

Indeed, even those in the West who tend to see the relations between Beijing and New Delhi as between two rivals cannot deny the prospects of greater cooperation between the two most populated countries.

As the two largest developing countries, China and India have growing influence in both the regional and global arenas. In recent years, Sino-Indian ties have in general sailed on smooth seas, as the two countries have sought to forge win-win cooperation, accommodate to each other's concerns and properly handle their differences.

Late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping once said "unless China and India are developed, there will be no Asian century," and there have been signs that the two countries now increasingly see each other as competitive partners, which will be instrumental in ushering in an Asian century.

India is among the 57 founding members of the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The two neighbors also cooperate closely in such multilateral platforms as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and maintain communication and coordination on major regional and global issues.

As long as the two countries always see the larger picture of their bilateral ties and transcend their differences, it is beyond doubt the Chinese dragon and the Indian elephant will work together for the early revitalization of two civilizations.