N-energy, UN: China and India signal friendship, not rivalry

felt like he was dealing with family and that, somehow, it appeared that their ancestors may have been related. It’s learnt that Wen immediately held his hand and told Singh that he treats him like his “elder brother”.

Last evening at a private dinner, both leaders struck a similar chord. Singh, in fact, admitted that there was “a meeting of minds” during the dinner which set the stage for the official bilateral interaction. For his part, Wen said: “We should not ask any longer who will outdo who.”

So, from an understanding to consider cooperation in the civilian nuclear sector when Chinese President Hu Jintao visited India in November 2006, China took a more definitive step today with the India-China “Shared Vision” document stating that both countries “pledge to promote cooperation in civil nuclear energy”. The two countries also agreed to view this cooperation in the context of climate change and increasing non-polluting sources in the energy mix.

As India prepares to approach the Nuclear Suppliers Group soon, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said this understanding would have a positive impact. “China is a member of the NSG and we hope this will have implications on its approach there. However, we are not yet approaching friends for support in the NSG,” said Menon.

Similarly, China this time agreed to specifically mention the UN Security Council while reaffirming its stated position of endorsing India’s aspirations at the international stage. “The Chinese side understands and supports India’s aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations, including in the Security Council,” stated the vision document.

Though the forward movement is subtle and incremental, Menon said this was an encouraging sign and sought to infer the statement as moving closer to supporting India’s key aspirational goals. He added there was a clear indication that Beijing was willing to take the relationship to a “new stage”.

On the contentious boundary question, sources said, India has sought dates for an early meeting of the experts group that was formed to clarify perceptions along the Line of Actual Control at the official level. However, China is yet to respond with dates. This, sources added, would help address much of the suspicion arising from recent troop movements.

Beijing, for its part, continues to lay stress on improving military-to-military contact as this, too, would act as an important confidence-building measure. In this context, both sides agreed to hold a meeting of border personnel in the “very near future” at Chang La, Lipulekh, in the Western Sector. It may be noted that so far these meetings are held at three other points in the Middle and Eastern sectors. It’s learnt that there is an effort underway to resolve the doubts arising from Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s remark on settled populations made to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee last year. National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice-Minister Dai Bingguo will hold informal discussions tomorrow in an effort to find a resolution to settle this misperception.

In the shared vision document today, both sides backed the negotiations between the two Special Representatives, pending which they agreed to maintain “peace and tranquillity” along the border. “The two sides reiterate their determination to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary and to build a boundary of peace and friendship on the basis of the agreement on political parameters and guiding principles,” stated the vision document.

The Engagement Map

• India and China agree to continue high-level exchange. Beijing invites President Pratibha Patil while India invites Chairman of the Chinese National Peoples Congress to visit India in 2008.

• Foreign Ministers of both countries to visit this year. Pranab Mukherjee in the first half of 2008 while Yang Jiechi in the second half.

• India to host joint military exercises this year. Defence dialogue also to be held at the level of Defence Secretary this year.

• Bilateral trade target revised to $60 billion by 2010. Earlier target was $40 billion, but both countries have already touched $38 billion, according to Chinese statistics.

• Joint business leaders forum to be set up.

• MoU between Planning Commission and the Chinese National Development Reforms Commission, along with nine other pacts signed on Moday.