(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-17 07:23

The optimistic term "Chindia" that well-known Indian economist Jairam Ramesh coined failed to catch much serious attention several years ago. Only a few observers realized its future impact.

It is no exaggeration to claim that the Sino-Indian relationship is running on a fast track. It has fared well beyond all imagination. At the border front, the most sensitive dimension of the bilateral relations, the two countries have established a feasible management mechanism to prevent disputes and guns from going off. Moreover, Chinese and Indian army men held their first joint training on fighting terrorism.

The two countries had the very reason to make Singh's China trip, the first for the Indian Prime Minister, a grand celebration.

However, they took a realistic attitude toward the three days Singh spent in Beijing. They did not expect solutions to all their problems such as the border issue, trade imbalance and negotiations on a free trade zone.

The two countries took the Indian prime minister's visit as an opportunity to give impulse to the development of their relations, which have been moving fast with a bright future, and with a lot of issues to be settled.

What they have been doing is to reduce the risk of confrontation and increase the welfare of both.

Spectacular success in China and India has made their leaders sit up and take note. They now see each other as leading powers and countries that should collaborate and do business. Thus we saw the pragmatism of Premier Wen Jiabao's approach - visiting the "software capital" of India and then going on to the national capital. Different from other visiting foreign leaders, Singh stayed only in Beijing, talking to Chinese leaders, intellectuals and business people.

They have found the approach to keep their bilateral relations on the right track while steering clear of issues left by their past. For China and India, each have become a force to reckon with.

The two countries issued a document on guarding their relations in the 21st century before Singh left Beijing for Delhi. It sent the world a message that they will support each other and pursue common prosperity.

The reality of the bilateral relations should remind leaders of the two countries of the problems they have to face.

Chinese and Indians do not visit each other's country frequently. The Himalayas, though the highest mountain in the world, is not the real barrier. The two peoples have a shallow view of the rise of each other.

Both countries should come together and make use of this opportunity in time to strengthen their ties not only in terms of business but also culturally, and with people to people contacts as well.

They can use the collaboration and make themselves more trustworthy neighbors and important players on the world stage.

(China Daily 01/17/2008 page8)