‘China, India Must Strive for Harmony,’ Op-Ed Urges after Xi-Modi Meeting

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

‘China, India Must Strive for Harmony,’ Op-Ed Urges after Xi-Modi Meeting

May 2, 2018 (EIRNS)—That is the headline on a May 1 Global Times op-ed by Prof. Liu Zongyi of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, discussing the potential of last week’s informal summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Professor Liu makes it clear that there are those in the West who are engaged in a “conspiracy to drive a wedge” between China and India, but he makes a strong case for the two countries to mend fences in order to “reach a strategic consensus” and “promote the rejuvenation of Asian civilizations.”

Liu’s is only one among many editorials published by Chinese media over recent days, focusing on the significant strategic potential of the Xi-Modi summit. Most of these do not expect Modi to formally join the Belt and Road Initiative until after the 2019 elections in India, so as not to appear to be making concessions to China, but progress on specific joint projects is likely—including in Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc.

Liu writes:

“China and India led the development of human civilizations before modern times, but were bullied by the West in modern history. If the two emerging economies can develop their relations into an intimate partnership and a new type of major-country relations, there is great hope for the rapid rise of China and India and the revival of Asia. However, Western countries may not be resigned to losing leadership and dominance over the world that have lasted hundreds of years.

“As the world is undergoing profound changes, Beijing and New Delhi should ponder whether to promote the rejuvenation of Asian civilizations or to fall into conflict and confrontation because of the West’s conspiracy to drive a wedge between them. Leaders of China and India should reach a strategic consensus.”

China Daily ran an op-ed by Buddhi Prasad Sharma, of Nepal, a PhD candidate at Communication University of China, to similarly argue that “Sino-Indian relationship will enter a new era of cooperation,” despite those who would like them to remain in conflict with each other.

“Though some hardliner politicians and experts in India don’t want to see Sino-Indian rapprochement and cooperation, history shows that when these two giants maintained understanding and peace, both gained enormously. When they are in confrontation, that created a very pessimistic environment in regional peace and order. So like Rajiv Gandhi’s 1988 visit to China, the recent visit by Modi and his very exclusive discussion with Xi could play a vital role in enhancing the bilateral relationship on one hand and also contribute to regional and international peace, harmony and development. So we can conclude that the result of the Xi-Modi informal talks in Wuhan offers glimpses of a new era on Sino-Indian all around cooperation.”