China and India can cooperate in their rise

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

GT: Another question from the netizens – why are there constraints in India on Chinese investment? Is it normal business conduct?

Rao: The public should have more information about the actual situation.

Are you aware that Chinese companies are contracting for projects in India?

We are building new infrastructure, roads, factories, and better communications. In all these sectors, China has participated.

The total value of such contracts is nearly $26 billion. Companies like Huawei and ZTE have established their own presence in India.

Huawei has its largest presence outside China in India, and they have a huge research and development establishment in Bangalore in South India, where they employ almost 2,000 Indians.
And Huawei’s annual turnover is over $1 billion.

India is a huge market for China’s business today. I believe it’s not factually correct to assume that Chinese companies are having difficulties in doing business in India.

GT: Last year after the Slumdog Millionaire was on view, many Chinese felt that China and India were alike. Foreigners often say that there seems to be two Chinas – a backward China in many books or movies, and an emerging economy in their eyes. There seems to be two Indias, too. Which India do you think is stronger and more representative?

Rao: India is a civilization of great diversity. The greatness of India lies in its ability to deal with such diversity, balance and tolerant differences – different points of view, different religions and countless languages. But still we are all Indian.

I’m very proud of the ancient India culture. Today I’m wearing an Indian sari. I can even ride a bicycle in a sari, because I feel so comfortable in it.

But yet, I feel I’m a very modern woman, too. I’m able to meet with foreign friends, to listen them, to talk to them and to understand them.

This is because our culture has always been open. We’ve always had a window open to the world, but we don’t get blown off by the winds coming to our house.

So I would say we are a modern country, and yet we are also an ancient country. And we are comfortable with being both modern and ancient at the same time.

GT: The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China. As Indian Ambassador to China, do you have something to say to China at the moment?

Rao: Yes. At the special moment, on behalf of my colleagues at the Embassy and on behalf of my country, I want to say that we have only good feelings for China.

We wish you more success, more prosperity and good things for your people in the years to come.

China and India will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relation in 2010, so we have many good things coming.

Namaste China!