PRIME Minister Narendra Modi’s three day visit to China produced little that is significant politically. There was no clarification of the Line of Actual Control and the final settlement of the boundary dispute is still up in the air. The joint talks called for more confidence building methods. China has not really backed Delhi’s claim to a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council or to membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Modi for his part did not back China’s ‘one belt, one road’ initiative on which President Xi Jinping is so keen. The two governments had decided to air their differences and recognize the need to smoothen them out. Panchsheel or peaceful co existence is now considered just pious rhetoric. India wants to strengthen partnership with China to pave the way for settlement of the boundary dispute. Previously it was the other way round.
Distrust is still deep between the two countries but Modi wants to water it down with a more productive relationship and closer economic ties. Contact between the two peoples and rediscovering cultural rules should cement the relationship. Commercial deals worth $22 billion between the corporate bodies of the two countries covering various areas of vital business have materialized during the visit. Tourism can be a major key to melting the ice. Liberalization of visa procedures for the Chinese would help towards this end. Buddhism can be a mollient of old animosities. Of course, the thawing of relations between the two giant neighbours cannot happen overnight.
