India and China are set to hold a
number of
high-level dialogues this year on a host of issues, including defence, economic and strategic matters,
to improve bilateral ties. Deputy Chief of China's People's Liberation Army
(PLA) Wang Guanzhong will hold annual Defence Dialogue with the Indian Defence
Secretary R K Mathur in New Delhi on Monday on issues concerning the defence
forces including exchanges, training and joint military exercises.
The talks are expected to cover defence
exchanges, joint military exercises as well as steps to increase confidence
building measures between the two forces in the light of the signing of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)
last year to avoid repetition of incursions by Chinese troops in the Depsang
Valley in Ladakh region. The two countries held third round of military
exercises last year after a gap of five years. This year's exercises are due to
be held in India. The Defence Dialogue
is taking place in the backdrop of 17th round of border talks held in New Delhi
headed by National Security Advisor
Shivshankar Menon and China's State Councillor Yang Jiechi.
The two countries would also hold the annual
Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Beijing on 18th to 19th March. Deputy Chief of the Planning Commission Montek
Singh Ahluwalia would head the Indian delegation at the talks, officials said. The SED which discuses economic and trade
relations between the two countries would cover issues like enhancing
cooperation in important sectors such as infrastructure and high-technology,
handling of the present global economic situation, cooperation in international
monetary and financial systems, global commodity markets, sustainable
development and climate change.
The two countries are also finalising dates
for the annual Strategic Dialogue, an informal talks mechanism that covered a
vast areas of mutual interest to be held between top officials of the foreign
ministries of both the countries.
China–India
relations
China–India relations, also called
Sino-Indian relations or Indo-China relations, refers to the bilateral
relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of
India. Historically, India and China have had relations for more than 2,000 years but modern
relationship began in 1950 when India was among the first countries to end formal ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
and recognize the PRC as the legitimate government of Mainland China. China and
India are two most populous countries and fastest
growing major economies in the world. The resultant growth in China and
India's international diplomatic and economic influence has also increased the
significance of their bilateral relationship.
China and India are two of the world’s oldest civilisations and have co-existed in peace
for millennia. Cultural and economic relations between China and India date
back to ancient times. The Silk Road not
only served as a major trade route between India and China, but is also
credited for facilitating the spread of Buddhism from India to East Asia.
During the 19th century, China's growing opium trade with the British Raj
triggered the Opium Wars. During World War II, India and China played a crucial
role in halting the progress of Imperial Japan.
Relations between contemporary China and
India have been characterised by border disputes, resulting in three major
military conflicts — the Sino-Indian War
of 1962, the Chola incident in 1967, and the 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish.
However, since the late 1980s, both countries have successfully attempted to
reignite diplomatic and economic ties. In
2008, China emerged as India's largest trading partner and the two
countries have also attempted to extend their strategic and military relations.
Despite growing economic and strategic ties,
there are several hurdles for India and the PRC to overcome in order to
establish favourable relations. Though bilateral trade has continuously grown,
India faces massive trade imbalance heavily in favour of China[dubious –
discuss]. The two countries have failed to resolve their long-standing border
dispute and Indian media outlets have repeatedly reported Chinese military incursions
into Indian territory. Both nations have steadily established heavy military
infrastructure along border areas. Additionally, India remains wary about
China's strong strategic relations with Pakistan while China has expressed
concerns about Indian military and economic activities in the disputed South
China Sea.
In June 2012, China stated its position that "Sino-Indian ties" could be
the most "important bilateral partnership of the century". That month
Wen Jiabao, the Premier of China and Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of
India set a goal to increase bilateral trade between the two countries to
US$100 billion by 2015. In November 2012, the bilateral trade was estimated to
be $73.9 billion.
