Sino-Indian normalcy must be maintained for a sustainable peace in the region. Both countries have serious border disputes since the 1962 border clash. India objects to the conclusion of the Sino-Pakistan border agreement of 1963, and today China and India have a 4,000-kilometer long Line of Actual Control rather than a clear border.

Peace and tranquility is a prerequisite for progress in bilateral relations, as recognized by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He paid an official three-day visit to China in late October. The signing of the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement is a landmark development between them to resolve border disputes. It is a positive development between the two nations.

It means that border situation is under mutual control now, and the previously frequent skirmishes can be avoided.

This is the major outcome of Singh's visit to Beijing. If a mechanism for border disputes can be created, there is a possibility of resolving the Dalai Lama issue too.

It is essential to lower the temperature between China and India. They must come to the negotiating table to resolve border disputes.

The recently concluded visit of Singh to Beijing and the meetings with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in October have paved the way for a negotiated settlement of disputes.

Both sides concluded as many as nine agreements to promote bilateral relations and resolve disputes, which is a good starting point.

The success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also greatly depends on the normalization and bolstering of ties between China and India.

Many CPEC projects will not only boost Sino-Pakistan bilateral relations, but also serve the larger regional interests including Central Asia, Afghanistan, the Gulf, and Iran.

A smooth Sino-Indian relationship will pave the way for a close coordination for these projects among many stakeholders. Pakistan must see the development of Sino-Indian relations from this important perspective.

The idea of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor would also aid China's Silk Road diplomacy and trade.

By cooperating with both Pakistan and India on such projects, China seems to have been trying to balance its relations in the region.

India also needs to appreciate the CPEC's possible benefits, instead of objecting to the construction of roads and the railway network connecting the port of Gwadar to Kashgar in western China.

China and India coordinate in many regional organizations. Pakistan also has enormous stakes in many of these organizations. This will lower mutual tensions between Pakistan and India. China needs to actively participate in regional organizations to help improve relations between the two traditional adversaries.

Relations between China and Pakistan have reached new heights under the new Chinese leadership, and two high level exchanges have been made since May.

Indian interaction with the new Chinese leadership is meaningful. China has more trade with India than any other South Asian countries. China is now determined to invest in multiple areas in Pakistan that will also benefit India.

China-India ties have global strategic importance, and they must improve to maintain order and peace in the world. India should not be used by any power to counterbalance and contain China, which would jeopardize mutual ties between them. In return, this would further complicate Pakistan-India ties.

The vitality of the Sino-Indian economic dynamics needs to be understood. China is an important trading partner of India. Trade has increased to over $67 billion last year. India's deficit, however, is soaring to $28 billion with China.

Both countries have been determined to enhance their trade to $100 billion by 2015. China's outbound investment in India would make the economic relationship stronger.

Singh's visit to China sent a powerful and meaningful message to the world. The visit has built mutual trust and consolidated in practice their existing ties.

The visit has presented a big picture of emerging understanding between the two giants. Both countries have shown that they are committed to working closely together in future.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn