Archive for ‘Diplomacy’

19/04/2012

* Agni-V launch: India demonstrates ICBM capability; China reacts cautiously, says India not rival

Times of India: “Reacting cautiously to India’s test of Agni-V missile, China on Thursday said the two countries are not rivals and enjoy “sound” relations though the sources in the Chinese establishment feel that the launch can give rise to another round of arms race in the region.

“China has taken note of reports on India’s missile launch. The two countries have sound relationship. “During the recently held BRICS meeting in Delhi the leadership had consensus to take the relationship further and to push forward bilateral strategic cooperative partnership,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a media briefing in Beijing when asked about the launch.

In Delhi, the diplomatic sources in the Chinese embassy said the “Agni-V launch can give rise to another round of arms race in this part of the world. “They were also critical of the media commentary on the successful launch of the nuclear capable 5000 km-range Agni-V missile, saying it sounded provocative. Asked whether China was concerned as most of the country would come under the Agnis range, Liu said in Beijing that “both the countries are emerging powers. We are not rivals. We are cooperative partners. We should cherish the hard earned momentum of cooperation.”

via Agni-V launch: India demonstrates ICBM capability; China reacts cautiously, says India not rival – The Times of India.

02/04/2012

* China to deepen reforms to drive growth: vice premier

Xinhua: “Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said Monday that China will deepen reforms and opening-up to remove obstacles on its course to transfer growth mode and drive economic and social development.

Li made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2012, which runs from Sunday to Tuesday in Boao, a scenic town in south China’s island province of Hainan. “Faced with the profound changes in international and domestic landscapes, we must let reforms and opening-up continue to lead the way in removing the institutional obstacles that hamper the shift of the growth model,” Li said. Noting that the country has entered a critical stage of reform, Li said China will deepen reform of the fiscal sector, taxation, finance, pricing, income distribution and enterprises.

The country will endeavor to make breakthroughs in key areas and key links, and bring into better play the markets role in resource allocation and advance institutional, technological and management innovation so as to increase the internal driving force and dynamism of development, Li said. Li said the country will adopt an even more proactive opening-up strategy and attach equal importance to export and import so as to boost balanced development of foreign trade and raise the level of an open economy. “China is dedicated to creating an open, transparent, fair, competitive and predictable marketplace and legal environment,” Li said, adding that more efforts will be made to step up intellectual rights protection to promote development of all enterprises in China during its course to transform growth mode.

More than 2,000 government, business and academic leaders from around the globe attended the meeting, which this year adopts the theme “Asia in the Changing World: Moving toward Sound and Sustainable Development.””

via China to deepen reforms to drive growth: vice premier – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

This declaration of reform by the Premier-to-be reaffirms the current Premier’s call for reform posted earlier. So this means the new leadership is fully behind the outgoing leadership.

Related post: https://chindia-alert.org/2012/03/14/premier-wen-says-china-needs-political-reform-warns-of-another-cultural-revolution-if-without/

02/04/2012

* Sino-ASEAN ties key to peace in S. China Sea

China Daily: “China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should work hard to boost practical cooperation and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, said a joint statement due to be issued on Monday by China and Cambodia. According to the statement, the two countries agreed that “China and ASEAN countries shall continue to abide by the purpose and spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and give full play to all the existing mechanisms including the guidelines for the implementation of the DOC to make it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation for China and ASEAN countries”.

Monday is the final day of President Hu Jintao’s four-day state visit to Cambodia, which holds the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2012 and plays an important role in East Asian cooperation and China-ASEAN relations. It also comes just two days ahead of a two-day regional summit of ASEAN in Phnom Penh.”

via Sino-ASEAN ties key to peace in S. China Sea|Politics|chinadaily.com.cn.

Given the increasing tension in the South China Seas due to conflicting oceanic territoriual claims, where large depositis of oil and gas are predicted, this must be good news.

30/03/2012

* More Chinese investments in India soon

Times of India: “China has committed to facilitating Indian exports into Chinese markets to address the yawning trade imbalance between the two countries. Chinese president Hu Jintao said this to Manmohan Singh in his hour-long meeting with the PM at the end of the BRICS summit on Thursday. This will be Hu’s last summit as Chinese president.

In return, the PM invited Chinese investment in manufacturing and infrastructure projects in India. Chinese companies are kept out of several strategic sectors, but there is a significant change in the Indian government’s approach to Chinese investment.

With the two leaders kicking off a year of friendship celebrations, the overwhelming sense from the meeting was that the two nations are determined to get along, despite many difficulties and differences of outlook. Singh and Hu announced “expanded” foreign office consultations, and launched three new dialogues with China – on West Asia, Central Asia and Africa. India and China pursue markedly different policies in Africa, though with the same stated aims.”

via More Chinese investments in India soon – The Times of India.

Related page:

In the 50s, PM Nehru and PM Chou met and agreed Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence. The press coined a phrase Hindi Chini bhai bhai, meaning Indians and Chinese are brothers.  It looked like the slogan was reflecting reality until in the late summer of 1962, due to the long-standing border dispute (legacy of British Raj) Chinese tanks rolled over the Himalyas and reached the oil fields of Assam in the East and also in Ladakh in the west.  Since then matters have thawed. BRIC (and now BRICS) was invented. This news release is good news, at least for India and China.

14/03/2012

* 40 years on: senior US diplomat recalls China trip as “single most dramatic, important event” in career

Extract from Xinhua: “For 74-year-old Winston Lord, former U.S. assistant secretary of state, his trip to China with former U.S.

English: US President Richard Nixon and Chines...

President Richard Nixon 40 years ago was “the single most dramatic and most important event” in his decades-long career. …

Years of hostility between China and the United States dispersed after Nixon’s world-stunning visit to China on Feb. 21, 1972, allowing the most powerful country and most populous one in the world to join hands in carving out a new future.

Lord, then a top aide to U.S. National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and the first U.S. official to visit China after 22 years of mutual hostility and isolation, was proud of first secret trip to China in 1971.

“We were flying secretively from Pakistan to Beijing on a Pakistani plane, and as the plane got close to the Chinese air space, border, I was in the front of the plane, and Dr. Kissinger was in the back of the plane, so as we went into Chinese territory, I was the first. I always told everyone, and Kissinger agrees, that I was the first American official to visit China in 22 years,” said a beaming Lord.”

via Senior U.S. diplomat recalls China trip as “single most dramatic, important event” in career – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Just over 40 years ago, President Nixon visited China, started ‘ping pong’ diplomacy and giant panda diplomacy. The rest, dear friends, as they say, is history. Nixon may have been dishonoured for the Watergate affair. But history, hopefully, will remember him well for inviting China to rejoin the modern world.

03/03/2012

* US military ties with India growing

Times of India: “Ties between the US and Indian militaries are growing, a senior defense official said on Friday, noting recent bilateral security talks between the two countries reaffirmed the partnership and the growing US interest in advancing it.

Acting under secretary of defense for policy James Miller joined Indian defense secretary Shashi Kant Sharma in co-chairing the 12th annual US-India defense policy group dialogue in New Delhi Feb 21 and 22.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Military-ties-with-India-growing-US/articleshow/12121013.cms

Undoubtedly another attempt at ‘encircling’ China policy by US. Earlier this year US and Australia agreed closer military cooperation. This will, no doubt, cause some reaction from the Chinese military eventually.

27/02/2012

* Indian Defence Minister reacts to China’s statement on Arunachal Pradesh

Times of India: “Defence minister A K Antony on Monday slammed China for raising objections to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, describing Beijing’s comments on the issue as “most unfortunate” and “really objectionable”.

He said Arunachal is an integral part of India asJammu and Kashmir and as defence minister it is his right and duty to visit the state, which has recently celebrated 25th anniversary of its statehood.

“I was surprised to see such a reaction. I feel it is most unfortunate and, at the same time, it is really objectionable,” he told reporters here.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chinas-objection-to-Arunachal-Pradesh-visit-most-unfortunate-A-K-Antony/articleshow/12054594.cms

See my post yesterday on this topic from Xinhua

26/02/2012

* China asks India to cooperate to maintain border stability

Xinhua: “A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Saturday asked India to work with China to maintain peace and stability in border areas.

Spokesman Hong Lei made the remark when asked to make comment on a news report of Indian officials participating in activities organized by the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” region.

The report said the officials pledged to guarantee the “safety” of the strategically important region.

Hong said China’s stance on Sino-Indian border issues, including disputes regarding the eastern section, has been consistent and clear-cut.

China advocates seeking a fair and rational solution through equal and friendly negotiations, the spokesman said.

He also called on India to refrain from taking any action that could complicate the issue.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/25/c_131431503.htm

Unlike all other countries with which China has a shared border, India is the only country that has stoutly insisted on honouring a British (McMohan) drawn border and refuses to re-negotiate.

14/02/2012

* Leader-in-waiting makes four-point proposal on US visit

Abbreviated from Xinhua: “Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping here on Monday called on the U.S. side not to let its presidential elections negatively affect the development of Sino-U.S. ties, during a meeting with several former senior U.S. officials.

Xi made a four-point proposal on how to enhance the Sino-U.S. relationship.

Firstly, he said, the two sides should regard history as a mirror.

Secondly, he said both sides should adopt a long-term perspective.

Thirdly, he said, the two sides should respect each other and build mutual trust.

Fourthly, the two sides should achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, he said.

“We should deal with friction and differences in bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the spirit of seeking mutual benefits and win-win results through a positive and constructive way,” Xi said.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/14/c_131409436.htm

12/02/2012

* Panda diplomacy strikes again – for Canada

Huff Post: “Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrapped up a visit to China aimed at boosting oil sales by announcing Saturday that Beijing will lend two of the country’s prized giant pandas to Canadian zoos.

Harper visited a zoo in the southwestern city of Chongqing to say that the Chinese government is loaning the panda pair to Canada for the next 10 years, Harper’s press secretary Carl Vallee said.

The pandas are expected to arrive in Canada early next year and will go to the Toronto and Calgary zoos for five years each. The giant panda is unique to China and is regularly sent abroad as a sign of warm diplomatic relations or to mark breakthroughs in ties.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/11/canada-pandas-china_n_1270742.html

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