China's Xi on charm offensive ahead of first India visit
Xi said the "the world's factory and the world's back office" made a winning combination, welcoming Indian businesses to China and calling for greater cooperation between two countries that have traditionally viewed each other with suspicion.
"With rich experience in infrastructure building and manufacturing, China is ready to contribute to India's development in these areas," Xi wrote in an article published in The Hindu daily.
"India is advanced in IT and pharmaceutical industries, and Indian companies are welcome to seek business opportunities in the Chinese market.
"The combination of the 'world's factory' and the 'world's back office' will produce the most competitive production base and the most attractive consumer market."
The Chinese president will begin his three-day visit on Wednesday in Ahmedabad, home city of India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The nuclear-armed neighbours fought a brief but bloody war in 1962 over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas, and are still embroiled in a bitter dispute over the territory.
But both leaders are eager to stress cooperation during the visit, with Modi keen to secure Chinese funding to develop the country's dilapidated infrastructure, blamed for holding back the economy.
Xi said that under the new Modi-led government, which came to power in May, "a new wave of reform and development has been sweeping across India... attracting keen international interest in its opportunities.
"China-India relations have become one of the most dynamic and promising bilateral relations in the 21st century," he said.
Japan has already promised to double its investment in India over the next five years.
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@Aalia: Development is not done through loans/foreign aid. Its done through revenue generation inhouse. I wish to see an end to every foreign funded project in Pakistan...this will force the nation to give up lethargy, work, deliver and emerge as a nation. And this is what IK is tryig to bring in Pakistan.
@Aalia: Actually we have! He is called arvind kejriwak(AK-47)
@Aalia: Actually we have! He is called arvind kejriwak(AK)
@Aalia: You got IK?? We got AK......he is our dharma specialist....
I wish India had IK too who could challenge and hamper progress in India.
"It's the economy stupid." The ground reality is that the average person first cares about food, shelter and quality of life before fighting wars and these two countries now realise that. China, cleverly has stayed way from confrontation and focused on its economy. Only now that it is a bohemoth is it making it's presence felt in the region territorially. India, under Modi, too seems to be getting back on track with focus shifting to infrastructure and economy. China and India are finally behaving like civilised societies and ignoring irritants in mutual relationship and instead focussing on cooperation and economy. Well done and good luck!
If we hadn't a border dispute with China, Indo-Chinese relations would be like that of US-Canada.