Li's India visit attracts global attention

Moving forward

Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India will help the two countries to lay aside differences and strengthen bilateral relations, says an editorial in The Hindu. Excerpts:

Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India was an opportunity for both sides to calm troubled waters and this is evidently what they have tried to do. The decision to "encourage" the two countries' Special Representatives on the boundary question "to push forward the process of negotiations" towards a mutually acceptable settlement will hopefully breathe political life into a process that is at a virtual standstill despite 15 rounds of talks.

Besides dealing with the border issue, both sides seemed to have made the deliberate decision to emphasise the larger strategic and global nature of the relationship. They have added civil nuclear cooperation to the mix, and agreed to enhance cooperation against piracy at sea and other non-traditional threats to maritime security. On trans-border rivers, another problematic area, the two sides have agreed "to further strengthen cooperation" and continue sharing data.

Striving to end border row

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart to make a new push to settle the long-running border row, pledging his commitment to "peace and tranquility", says an article in The Hindustan Times. Excerpts:

While addressing a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in New Delhi on Monday, Singh said: "We've had differences but peace must be preserved on the borders," adding that special measures were needed to build greater confidence between the two nations.

Li said that the border dispute was a historical hangover and that there was a desire on both sides to resolve it.

Earlier, Li pledged to build trust with India and declared that ties between the Asian giants were key to world peace as he visited New Delhi only weeks after a border spat.

Speaking alongside his counterpart Manmohan Singh, Li said China wanted to increase cooperation with India, saying his choice of destination for his first foreign visit showed the importance that Beijing attached to ties with New Delhi.