Sino-Indian relations shall not be defined only by border disputes

In a speech at the Anant National University in Ahmedabad, India, on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar highlighted a "very complicated challenge" from China, which is "very visible" in border areas in the past three years, adding that both countries have to find an equilibrium in ties.

India's top diplomat was to some extent correct to point out that mutual respect, sensitivity and interest have to be the basis of the relationship. However, he has to be reminded that the Narendra Modi government has been putting the cart before the horse for too long in dealing with India's largest neighbor.

The border dispute was created by British colonialists just the way they sowed discord between India and Pakistan. Yet China and India have a solid foundation to solve the dispute thanks to the fact that the two neighbors have had thousands of years of peaceful coexistence, friendly exchanges and trade relations based on mutual respect. They were also pillars of the less-developed countries' campaign to strive for national independence, liberation and development in the last century.

Their economic size, population and key role in the global industry and supply chains give them broad space for win-win economic and trade cooperation. However, that potential is yet to be tapped, as some politicians in New Delhi blindly follow the United States' China-containment strategy.

China is open to investment from India, and encourages the public to view relations with India rationally. China has never joined any bloc against India. Instead, it seeks cooperation with India in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and under the BRICS mechanism.

The Indian government, in contrast, holds discriminatory policies against Chinese businesses and enterprises, and indulges in narrow nationalism against China. It has actively joined the Quad group the US has set up to contain China, as well as being open to Washington's "Indo-Pacific" strategy with China in its crosshair.

China and India are important players for global economic growth and for promoting the reform of the international order, global governance and resolution of global challenges.

There is no reason for New Delhi not to work with Beijing to build "guardrails" to prevent the border disputes from hijacking the overall development of bilateral ties as some external forces expect.