Chinese President Xi Jinping on China & India moving together 'Towards an Asian century of prosperity'

Last updated on September 18th 2014

It was fascinating to read Chinese president Xi Jinping's article, Towards an Asian century of prosperity, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/towards-an-asian-century-of-prosperity/article6416553.ece, in The Hindu today.

Some extracts and comments:

My first visit to this ancient and magic land was 17 years ago, a time when the Indian economy was undergoing reform and beginning to show new vitality in growth. The market was booming in Mumbai, the economic centre. Bangalore was becoming increasingly famous as India’s Silicon Valley. And Bollywood movies and yoga were popular throughout the world. Its people were full of expectations and the ancient civilisation was rejuvenated.

[Ravi: That would be around 1997. Very interesting to note how this recent Chinese visitor viewed India then and he seems to have got it spot on! I loved the "ancient and magic land" bit. India's magical charms are well known worldwide!]

Now 17 years later, I am about to once again visit India, an enchanting and beautiful land that has captured world attention. India is an emerging economy and a big developing country. It is Asia’s third largest economy and the world’s second largest exporter of software and agriculture products. A member of the United Nations, the G20, the BRICS and other organisations, India is playing an increasingly important role in the regional and international arena. The “Story of India” has spread far and wide. With the new government coming into office, a new wave of reform and development has been sweeping across India, greatly boosting the confidence of the Indian people and attracting keen international interest in its opportunities.

[Ravi: Really great to read such words from the Chinese president! I loved the "enchanting and beautiful land that has captured world attention" part. The Asian leader is able to touch the right emotive Asian chords, I think. World's second largest exporter of software and agri products! That's something!]

...

China has become India’s largest trading partner, with their bilateral trade volume increasing from less than US$3 billion early this century to nearly US$70 billion. Mutual visits reached 8,20,000 last year.

[Ravi: I did not know that the China-India bilateral trade has grown so much! Over 20 times in around 14 years!]

...

As emerging markets, each with its own strengths, we need to become closer development partners who draw upon each other’s strengths and work together for common development. With rich experience in infrastructure building and manufacturing, China is ready to contribute to India’s development in these areas. India is advanced in IT and pharmaceutical industries, and Indian companies are welcome to seek business opportunities in the Chinese market. The combination of the “world’s factory” and the “world’s back office” will produce the most competitive production base and the most attractive consumer market.

[Ravi: That seems like a simple but powerful business win-win line. Surely, India can benefit enormously from China's infrastructure building and manufacturing expertise which has wowed the world in the past few decades. China would have faced similar problems that India faces in improving its infrastructure & manufacturing, and so it may have the right formulas for success, along with the massive money power that it has today. Indian IT today combining with Chinese manufacturing seems to have awesome potential! I say Indian IT today as today I think some significant size sections of the Indian IT industry have genuine software product design & development capabilities which was not the case a decade ago.]

...

As two important forces in a world that moves towards multipolarity, we need to become global partners having strategic coordination. According to Prime Minister Modi, China and India are “two bodies, one spirit.” I appreciate this comment. Despite their distinctive features, the “Chinese Dragon” and the “Indian Elephant” both cherish peace, equity and justice. We need to work together to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (the Panchsheel), make the international order more fair and reasonable, and improve the mechanism and rules of international governance, so as to make them better respond to the trend of the times and meet the common needs of the international community.

[Ravi: Those are powerful words for a more inclusive and "more fair and reasonable" world order from a powerful leader. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Principles_of_Peaceful_Coexistence:

This agreement stated the five principles as:
1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
2. Mutual non-aggression.
3. Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
4. Equality and cooperation for mutual benefit.
5. Peaceful co-existence.]

As Deng Xiaoping puts it, no genuine Asian century would come without the development of China, India and other developing countries. We are ready to shoulder this mission of our times and work actively to enhance friendship between China and India. I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with Indian leaders on our bilateral relations during the visit, and to injecting new vitality to our strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity.

I am confident that as long as China and India work together, the Asian century of prosperity and renewal will surely arrive at an early date.

[Ravi: These are the concluding words of the article by the Chinese president. Well said, sir!]