India-China Relations (Prospects for Building Synergy in the Twenty First Century)

India and China account for over fifty per cent of global output for much of the recorded history of states. Since the transfer of residence of the Dalai Lama to India in 1959, followed by the short but consequential Sino-Indian border war in 1962, relations between Beijing and Delhi have remained at levels far below the optimum. The twenty first century mandates a distancing from the errors made in the twentieth, which translates into the fashioning of policies that tap into the immense potential synergy between India and China. It was to meet such a challenge that a National Seminar on India-China Relations: Prospects for Building Synergy in the Twenty First Century was held at Manipal University in collaboration with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata during 2-3 December, 2011.

This writer has been emphasizing from 1999 onwards, the need to sidestep the border issue and work on other possible spheres of cooperation, such as tourism, commerce and cultural and media exchanges. The presumption is that once such ties take on an irresistible momentum, the background would have been created for an amicable resolution of the border issue. Over the past thirteen years, although trade has gone up significantly, so that both countries are on track to achieve a target of $200 billion in less than five years and $500 billion within ten, as yet tourist footfalls are disappointingly low. Media and cultural exchanges are anaemic, while media contacts are as low as direct airline links, which are less than one per cent of what they are between China and South Korea, a country smaller than India. Much more needs to be done, so that both peoples may derive the benefits that would accrue from closer Sino-Indian cooperation.

I thank MAKAIAS, especially its Director, Dr Sreeradha Datta and my old friend Dr Binoda Mishra, for its vision in holding such a conference, and in choosing Manipal University as its partner. Our University held the first-ever major India-China conference taking place this century, where even serving military officers (from both sides) participated. From early 2013, Chinese language teaching will begin on campus at Manipal, equipping students in the language. We are also beginning a partnership with Tianjin and Tongji universities in China, both among the oldest, best and most liberal universities in the PRC. We do all this knowing that better relations between China and India is essential not only for both countries, but for the emergence of Asia as the lead continent on the globe.

Experts from academia, business and government attended the seminar, which deliberated on the perceptions and misperceptions in India-China relations. The discussions really helped in seeking consensus on a possible road map for Sino-Indian relations. The participants explored numerous mechanisms by which both nations could dispel their doubts and misunderstandings, so as to enhance their cooperation. Their conclusions are presented in this volume.

The Sino-Indian relations have witnessed lot of ups and downs in the last few decades. The year 2012 is very significant because it is the fiftieth anniversary of India-China War of 1962. Despite the complexities in India-China Relations, there seems to be a paradigm shift in approaches and understanding each others' perceptions. The twenty first century has been witnessing a sea change in the approaches of China towards India and vice-versa. Does it mean that there is a thaw and detente in Sino-Indian relationship? Undoubtedly, the state of uneasy peace has been replaced by a state of willingness to improve the situations and move towards greater cooperation, which ultimately would enhance ties and create cordial atmosphere. The challenges to the synergy building exist and how best both the nations India and China can overcome the differences and intensify the cooperation on the areas of mutual interests remain a matter of debate and discussion.

China's rise as a major international actor has been a defining feature of the strategic landscape of the twenty first century. The sustained economic development in China has raised the debate on the shifting of the centre of gravity from West to East. China's rise in the contemporary world is being perceived as an important landmark in the international relations and emerging geopolitics.

This report published by Manipal Centre for Asian Studies on India-China Relations: Prospects for Building Synergy in the Twenty First Century is based on a National Seminar held at Manipal University, Manipal in collaboration with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata. The Seminar provided a platform for the members of academic, diplomatic and strategic community to exchange views in a free and frank manner on the challenges to the synergy building in India-China relations.

Despite the fact that there is a remarkable and significant improvement in understanding each others' perceptions in India-China relations, both the countries India and China still require to bridge the trust deficit and build confidence. India and China have to work together and assume responsibilities to lead the world affairs. The centre of gravity has been shifting from West to East and more particularly to China and India. China and India certainly are not rivals as mostly portrayed by Western literatures. Both have the potential to lead a new era in the international system.

The Seminar deliberated on a number of pertinent important issues including the perceptions and misperceptions in India-China relations, China's Rise: Strategic Thinking and Modernisation, Domestic and Economic issues and Political and Foreign Policy issues. The discussions during the Seminar really helped us in reaching to a consensus on the challenges and the complexities of India-China relations.

The report examines a number of issues impacting Sino-Indian relations and provides a deeper understanding about the need to forge a greater partnership in the twenty first century.

The Seminar was sponsored by the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata and I thank Dr Sreeradha Datta, Director of MAKAIAS and Dr Binoda Mishra, Fellow at MAKAIAS for their support both in planning and executing the ideas.

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