Sino-Indian ties must escape trap of the past
- Source: Global Times
- [21:32 March 29 2010]
- Comments
Dr S. Jaishankar, Indian ambassador to China
Editor’s Note:
The two Asian giants China and India not only share a long border, but also have strong cultural and economic bonds. The disputed border, however, has caused conflicts in the past. Boundary and trade issues still cause friction between the two great powers. Global Times (GT) reporter Wu Meng interviewed Dr S. Jaishankar (Jaishankar), Indian ambassador to China, on the future prospects of India- China relations.
GT: How would you define the current stage of India-China relations?
Jaishankar: I would say that we are now beginning to move into a more mature phase of our relationship.
What I mean by “more mature” is that the relationship between India and China has more content, contact and comfort. It is moving toward a better stage.
GT: During your term as ambassador, what do you think will be the biggest challenge in improving India-China relations?
Jaishankar: The biggest challenge to me is that of the mindset. The reason I say it’s mindset is that I think it’s important that everybody takes a strategic view of the relationship.
We can’t always remain trapped in the past. We need to get along with each other. And frankly, we need to be seen to get along.
The mindset is not just about the past, but also toward the future. I am not sure if I want to get into talking about the problems in the past. Personally I would rather be focusing on the opportunities in the future.
GT: Both the Chinese and Indian media occasionally take an unfriendly or even hostile tone toward the other country. What do you think needs to be done to clear the air?
Jaishankar: It’s important to understand we won’t always read what we want to read in the media.
Part of the reason for the negative tones and reports is leftovers from the past, part of it is that there are still some issues in our relationship, and part of it is that there aren’t enough explanations that are offered on some important issues, which leads people to speculate about more than what there really is.
Rather than keep asking about the actions of the media, it is more important to improve the message, instead of worrying too much about the messenger. By message, I mean things that have actually been done between China and India.
It is important to keep things happening, especially positive things. So if the message itself is positive, the tone that messengers use will change too. But if the message remains unclear, then certainly people will have negative thoughts.
It is important to reshape the relationship to push media reporting to a more positive direction.
GT: There are still border conflicts between India and China. What effect do you think this issue will have on India-China relations?
Jaishankar: Well, it is an issue. We cannot get away from it. But again, I think it is important to appreciate what has been done in the last 15 or 20 years. The fact is, we have an agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility on the border. And we have an agreement on confidence-building measures on the border, and the guiding principles and political parameters on how we are going to approach the border issue.
To say that we are where we were is not true. A lot of things have taken place in the last 10 years and some quite recently.
We should look at the progress that has been made and if we do that, we can see the border issue from a totally different perspective in the relationship.
The important thing is, we are talking and we are progressing, so it is good news.
GT: As the two biggest developing countries in Asia, how could China and India promote cooperation to increase the influence of Asia in international affairs?
Jaishankar: One of the big challenges and opportunities in front of us is, with both countries rising rapidly at the same time, we can use the common interests between us.
Take climate change. It is an issue of great concern for both countries. So are trade rules and regulations and the issue of migration.
These are the issues that should concern both nations. But in reality, we don’t seem to think about them too much in our relations.
We share a long history of common interest in traditional medicine, cultural heritage, and some complex and intangible issues. We should look at those issues as a whole and work together on those things to promote the cooperation between the two countries.
GT: What about education?
Jaishankar: Education is a field which has become a hot topic only in recent years. We now have about 7,000 Indian students studying in China. The number is growing. There are a lot fewer Chinese students in India.
But as we put more effort in promoting education between China and India, there will be more students going to the other country to study the language and culture.
There are two approaches to this matter. One is to let it happen on its own, and the other is to do something to make it happen. The second approach, I think, is the right one.
