Dragon-Elephant Tango: Here’s What the Chinese are Talking About
Symbolism, soft atmospherics and hard talk - PM Modi dominates Chinese media reports during his high profile visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China has been a closely watched event the world over. As the two Asian giants chalked out a strategy to boost economic ties, the Chinese media has been on an overdrive, reporting about the details of the event.
As PM Modi touched down in Xi’an, the hometown of the Chinese President Xi Jingping, the state owned People’s Daily headlined the news as “Hometown diplomacy highlights Modi’s Xi’an tour”
Even as China’s National Broadcaster CCTV beamed a controversial map of India that chopped off J&K and Arunachal Pradesh, Xinhua chose to term the visit successful, top-lining the meet with this headline -“Chinese Premier says talks with India’s Modi meet expectations.”
Strengthening Geo-Economic Ties
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held a welcome ceremony for Modi before their talks in Beijing today. Modi’s visit is believed to gives another push to the development of bilateral relations after Xi’s visit to India last September. An editorial in People’s daily claims Sino-Indian ties can conquer West’s doubts with Modi’s visit.
It will be a long-term test for China and India to get rid of distractions imposed by the West and stick to a path which can benefit the national interest of both countries. The fundamental interests of China and India require peace, goodwill and cooperation.
- Editorial in People’s Daily
Another report in Shanghai Daily says Modi’s top priority would be finding ways to reduce India’s US$48 billion trade deficit with its neighbour through greater market access for Indian goods and services. The article also says Modi will try to convince Chinese companies to manufacture in India in tandem with his ‘Make in India’ programme.
Asian Century A Reality?
As long as China and India join hands to promote sustainable economic development, realisation of the “Asian Century” does not seem a distant dream. At least that’s what Prof. Han Hua of Peking University argues in his editorial in China Daily. He adds that, “China and India are vital to Asia’s growth story.”
Border issues, however, remain a diplomatic obstacle that sometimes prevents bilateral relations from improving. Yet Beijing and New Delhi have not fired a single shot across the border in any of the so-called clashes thanks to their adherence to the peace agreements, from the 1993 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Area to the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2013.
If China and India remain committed to the policy of peace and diplomacy, they will inject new vitality into bilateral relations and the Asian growth story in the years ahead.
-Prof. Han Hua, China Daily
Another editorial too speaks of the possibility of the two neighbours ushering in an Asian century.
Late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping once said “unless China and India are developed, there will be no Asian century,” and there have been signs that the two countries now increasingly see each other as competitive partners, which will be instrumental in ushering in an Asian century.
As long as the two countries always see the larger picture of their bilateral ties and transcend their differences, it is beyond doubt the Chinese dragon and the Indian elephant will work together for the early revitalization of two civilizations.
-Editorial in China Daily.
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