It has been a case of win some-lose some in the final analysis for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China. This is Singh’s final visit before the 2014 general elections in India and it was tinged with a sense of pragmatism for both parties.
The signing of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement has been a significant concord between Beijing and New Delhi, but the issue of stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, which China still considers as part of its territory, is an illustration that both parties have to tread carefully with the aim of reaching long-term solutions. Flexibility is the key when India and China do business, or sit across the table for diplomatic huddles. It has never been an easy ride and will never be. The stakes are simply too high for both nations to give a quarter in order to gain an inch, especially in a modern day scenario where they are seen as rivals in the field of economy, commerce and defence, given their policies towards each other, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The best course is to work at unearthing the opportunities that a harmonious relationship could bring. Economy and trade are part of this bundle. In sum, despite their evident differences, there is no reason why India and China cannot co-exist. There is a much larger Asian question to positively tackle vis-à-vis their status and roles.
The two superpowers should continue working towards weeding out differences and reaping the rewards of mutual respect and result-oriented goals.
