India, China can ill-afford misperceptions on policy: NSA

New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Warning that India and China could
ill-afford misperceptions on policy, India's National Security
Advisor Shivshankar Menon Thursday said that pursuit of an
ambitious agenda by the two countries can put bilateral
relations on a sound footing.
"When the world is changing so rapidly, and when
uncertainty in the international system is at unprecedented
levels, neither India nor China can afford misperceptions or
distortions of policy caused by a lack of understanding of
each other's compulsions and policy processes," he said.
Menon asserted that in a democracy like India, foreign
policy has a symbiotic relationship with public opinion which
is formed by it and needs its support to be legitimate,
coherent and implementable.
"It is only on the basis of informed and supportive
public opinion that we would be able to grasp the
opportunities and move forward on the ambitious agenda that
awaits India-China relations, the pursuit of which would place
India-China relations on a sound footing for the 21st
century," he said.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Indian
Council of World Affairs to commemorate the 60th anniversary
of India-China diplomatic relations.
Menon warned that the emergence of "nativist" voices, and
the loud expression of opinion could introduce volatility in
preception. "We have all witnessed this phenomenon in India-
China relations in the last year or so," he said.
Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan said that efforts
should be made by both China and India to properly handle
public opinion.
"Public opinion is vitally important to the development
of our relations. Two countries should provide correct
guidance to the public opinion and avoid war of words," Zhang
said.
Efforts should be made on both sides to create an
environment that is objective, friendly and that of mutual
trust.
"A good and conducive public environment will not only
provide a necessary condition for the stable development of
our relations, but also create conditions conducive to the
settlement of historical issues and other differences," Zhang
said.
He said the two countries should further enhance mutual
trust which is vital to a sound and stable relationship.
"Without trust there can be no sustained and meaningful
cooperation. Two countries should maintain the momentum of
high-level interaction, expand exchanges and cooperation at
all levels and in all fields," Zhang said. PTI