China and India can cooperate in their rise

• Source: Global Times
• [22:09 July 09 2009]
• Comments

Nirupama Rao

 Editor’s Note:

Nirupama Rao (Rao), the Indian Ambassador to China, has recently been appointed as India’s new Foreign Secretary. Before leaving for India, Rao visited Global Times (GT), and conducted an online dialogue with netizens of the GT website. Many netizens know Rao well and posted their questions in advance. GT reporters helped collect those questions and facilitate this talk.

GT: You’ve lived in China for several years. What’s your impression of the changes here over the past several years?

Rao: I’ve grown up along with China. I first came to China in 1986 when I was a very young woman, and China was a very different place at that time.

But coming to China for the first time was an unforgettable experience, and since then the positive impression I formed has never left me.

I admire the dynamism of your people, the energy, the Chinese mind, your ability to focus and your dedication to the nation.

GT: Western media tends more and more to compare the rise of India and that of China. The Indian media often criticizes China too. How do you define the relationship between India and China? Is it true that Asia cannot have two ancient countries emerging as world powers simultaneously?

Rao: There is enough space for both China and India to develop, and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity.

We are friends, partners and neighbors. We are on the same side of the street.

It’s essential for our Chinese friends to understand that India is a democracy of 1 billion people, and there’s freedom of expression.

You should look at the whole picture of our public opinion. There are always some voices speaking against, and many voices speaking for friendship with China.

The overall trend is for friendship, dialogue, and the peaceful resolution of the outstanding issues in our bilateral relations.

I don’t see the misunderstandings between the two societies as a problem, but a challenge to be addressed and overcome.

The fundamental reason of such misunderstandings is that people do not have enough information about each other.

GT: One netizen mentioned that India, China and Russia should build a tripartite alliance against the US. What do you think?

Rao: Any alliance should be built to help each other, rather than going against other entities which is not the way international relations work.

Regional cooperative network and free movement of people, ideas and goods is the essence of alliance in the 21st century.