India-China Relations: A Positive Frame

Pronouncements both by the Indian and Chinese governments after the inauguration of the Rajiv Gandhi administration reflect more than diplomatic niceties. They manifest a positive frame which has emerged in the recent years for a steady development of India-China relations. The pace at which the economic, scientific and cultural exchange programmes have expanded provides some ground for optimism for the sixth round of talks on the border scheduled for later this year in New Delhi. Though there is no indication of an emerging settlement on the border, still the stage is getting set for a serious progress on this issue. Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party on the eve of the first session of the new Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expressed his satisfaction over the progress made in the talks with China, but he also cautioned that the way towards a full agreement was very long. The President's address to Parliament on 17 January 1985 also indicated the same situation.' He said, “Our relations with China have shown improvement. We shall persevere in seeking a solution to the boundary question.†The Chinese have warmly reciprocated these feelings. Attending the Republic Day reception given by the Indian Ambassador A.P. Venkateswaran in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian said that he saw no real conflict of fundamental interests between India and China and there were bright prospects for bilateral cooperation in the future. There are several factors contributing to the emerging positive frame for Sino-Indian relations. The strategic shift in China's South Asia policy, the overall orientation of China's “independent foreign policy,†and increasing exchange between India and China, are important among them. The new factors facilitating this trend are the assertion of technological management approaches to the problems of development of the two countries by the current leaders and the extrems care with which China covers Indian developments in its press; this is evident from the Chinese reports on the Punjab issue.