Question: As the first Prime Minister to visit China in 15 years, what messages are you brining to the new Chinese leadership and the Chinese people?
Answer: The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to China was in September 1993.
India and the People’s Republic of China are the two most populous countries in the world. We are neighbours bound by ties of civilization, history, religion, culture and economic interaction.
We face common challenges in our efforts to rapidly improve the socio economic condition of our peoples.
Our perspectives on today’s fast changing and globalising world have much in common. We share a desire to strengthen the trends for multi-polarity in international relations and to channel the beneficial forces of globalisation towards economic growth with socio-economic equity.
Therefore, I come to China with a message of peace, amity, trust, understanding and cooperation. There is no objective reason for discord between us. Applying the principles of Panchsheel (which were jointly defined by us almost 50 years ago), with mutual sensitivity to the concerns of each other and respecting equality, India and China can harness their civilizational ties and economic complementarities to create a strong force for positive change in the world.
I am also coming to China to see for myself the rapid economic development in the People’s Republic of China over the last two decades. There is a lot that the Indian people can learn from your great economic successes.
Question: India-China relations in the past years have seen improvements on many fronts. How would you characterise the potentiality of the bilateral relations in the future?
Answer: I have already touched on the huge potential for India-China cooperation. India and China are among two fastest growing economies in the world. The basic structure of our economies is not dissimilar, although we have chosen different paths towards development. We are part of a fast globalising world. There are enormous economic complementarities between our two countries. We have to work together in the years ahead to exploit them more fully for mutual benefit.
We must also build on the very useful foundations, which we have laid in recent years for diversifying our relations. We are in the process of establishing a meaningful and regular high level dialogue architecture, covering diverse areas of bilateral cooperation and cooperation in regional and international matters.
Our interaction needs to be intensified through exchanges in culture, tourism, education, media and science & technology. We should jointly further our common interests in the environment and sustainable development.
Question: You mentioned recently that India’s nuclear development was not Pakistan-centric. Could you elaborate on that?
Answer: The most important aspect of India’s nuclear weapons programme is its defensive character. It is not directed against any country. We are developing a minimum credible nuclear deterrent, to deter any adversary from using nuclear weapons against India. We have ourselves included the principle of no first use in our nuclear doctrine.
Question: On the border issue, India seems reluctant to accept the guidelines of “mutual understanding and mutual accommodation” proposed by China. What do you think should be the spirit for the two sides to solve this issue?
Answer: I do not want to talk about words and definitions here. Both our countries are willing to discuss and resolve the border question through peaceful discussions. The resolution should naturally be fair to both sides, and has to be mutually acceptable. We have established an institutional mechanism to discuss principles. Peace and tranquillity are being maintained in the India-China border areas in accordance with our bilateral agreements of 1993 and 1996. Both sides have agreed that any differences on these matters should not be allowed to affect the overall development of bilateral relations. As our mutual goodwill and trust strengthens through the progressive diversification of our all-round cooperation, I am sure our two countries will find amicable solutions, as befitting two civilized nations.
Question: On the economic relations, business communities in both countries have shown tremendous interest in building up closer ties. Do you think the political leadership lags behind in that sense and what measures are to be taken to promote this trend on the Indian side?
Answer: My Government has actively encouraged the development of trade and economic cooperation between India and China. Our bilateral trade has grown from about US$ 3 billion at the end of 2000 to about US $ 5 billion at the end of last year. In the first four months of this year trade volume increased by more than 70% over the same period last year. Indian companies have set up 71 projects in China, investing about US $ 65 million. More investment is planned. We welcome Chinese companies in India for trade and investment.
During my forthcoming visit, I hope to discuss with the Chinese leadership ways to develop our economic partnership comprehensively by exploiting more fully our complementarities and using the new opportunities, which the globalisation has created.
Question: As you mentioned lately that “the world is changing fast” and “sitting on one pole”. How would that affect India’s foreign policy and her policy toward China in particular?
Answer: Recent global developments have underlined the importance of cooperative multi-polar world order, inspired by an ethic of pluralism and consensus, which would accommodate the legitimate interests and aspirations of this constituent elements.
India and China are tow of the largest countries in the world both geographically and demographically. Our economies are growing fast. Our inherent strengths are undeniable. Growing mutual cooperation between India and China can greatly enhance our political and economic contributions to a more equitable world order. This should motivate our countries to forge closer links.
Question: Some argue that India’s relations with the United States could be used a counterforce against China. What is your comment on that?
Answer: I have said earlier that the need today is for a cooperative multi-polar world order, which accommodates the legitimate interests and aspirations of all its constituent elements. We should discard Cold War concepts such as balance of power and spheres of influence. In this conviction, India does not seek to develop relations with any country to “counterbalance” another. Both India-USA relations and India-China relations have their own compelling logic.
Question: Is India going to show the same level of interest in Non-Aligned Movement and the sort in the future (sic) and continue to play as an independent global force, or is India going to turn more practical and pragmatic in her foreign policy?
Answer: The Non-Aligned Movement was born out of the desire of the economically weaker and newly independent countries to retain their independence of action in their political and economic development. While the Movement was created in the specific context of the Cold War in a bi-polar era, the need to preserve independence of action is just as important in a multi-polar world.
India is one of the rounder members of the Non-Aligned Movement. We continue our efforts within NAM to articulate more effectively the interests and concerns of developing countries.
Question: Would you please write a few words for the readers of Wen Huibao?
Answer: I extend my warm greetings to the people of Shanghai. In recent years, Shanghai has acquired the reputation of being the industrial and commercial powerhouse of the surging Chinese economy, I will bring to Shanghai warm sentiments of friendship from the Indian people. I would like to take back with me experiences and memories of your remarkable successes.
