Ambassador Zhang Yan relives China-India relations
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China.org.cn: We've known that China is now India's biggest trader partner; could you please give us more details on the Sino-Indian bilateral trade?
Zhang Yan: Bilateral trade has actually become the highlight of Sino-Indian relations. In 2008, the total bilateral trade volume of China and India reached US$51.78 billion from US$2.9 billion in 2000, and the average annual growth rate is as high as 43 percent. It is in 2008 that China became the biggest trade partner of India, and India the 10th of China. Despite the global financial crisis in 2009, bilateral trade, amounting to US$44.38 billion, was successfully maintained at a high level. In 2010, both countries are exerting great efforts to realize the target of US$60 billion of trade volume. Two-way investment has also stepped forward. India's accumulative investment in China has exceeded US$300 million, and China has invested US$250 million in India. Presently, more than 100 Indian companies are doing business in China, and more 60 Chinese companies in India.
China.org.cn: Obviously, China and India will play more important roles in future Asian politics. Would you like to comment on the two countries' cooperation on handling international and regional affairs?
Zhang Yan: The Sino-Indian relationship is not only bilateral, but of global and strategic meaning. As emerging new powers, both China and India's international status and influence have been rising, their cooperation has been strengthened, and the positive and constructive role they played has attracted more concern from the international community. Here are some examples: both China and India implemented effective measures to tackle the financial crisis and took the lead in stepping out of the shadow of a sluggish economy. The coordination of the two countries at the London G-20 financial summit and Pittsburgh G-20 financial summit contributed to the generation of positive results. Their cooperation on issues like international economic and financial system reform, the Doha Round negotiations, climate change, anti-terrorism, energy and food safety, is also strong and effective. It is worth mentioning that China and India forged a formidable alliance at the last U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen, reaffirmed the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and defended the legal rights and interests of developing countries.
China.org.cn: There is a saying which compares China to a dragon and India to an elephant. Is this metaphor proper? What exactly is the "fight between dragon and elephant"? Is it a fight in politics, military, culture or economics?
Zhang Yan: Oh, I would rather change "fight" into "cooperation." As two largest developing countries in the world, China and India have the same or similar stand on some international issues. Cooperation between the two giants will benefit not only themselves but the whole world. Both Chinese and Indian leaders agree that there is a wide space for the common development of the two countries. Deng Xiaoping, the former Chinese leader, once said, "A real Asia Pacific Century or Asia Century won't come until China, India and other neighboring countries become strong."
China.org.cn: What is India's position on China's rise? Welcome, fear or resistance?
Zhang Yan: It's true that both countries are concerned about each other's development. Many Indian people get to know China's growth, appreciate the achievements China has accomplished ever since reform and opening up, and advocate reinforcing the win-win cooperation. And of course, there are some people who don't see China's development in a fair or objective way. They may know little about the real China, may be misled by Western media or just have bias against China. But it is not the mainstream. More and more Indians of insight have realized that China's rising is not a threat but an opportunity.
