India, China can manage differences: Menon

New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Contending that India and China
were capable of managing their relations despite differences,
National Security Adviser of India Shivshankar Menon on
Thursday said the two countries needed to grasp the
opportunities offered by their economic transformation and
evolving global situation.
Delving elaborately on Sino-Indian relations at a lecture
here, he said there was a marked similarity of goals and the
two countries should "actively consider together the next
steps" in the evolution of their ties and evolve "a detailed
framework for resolution of the boundary issue in a manner
that is politically feasible for both leaderships".
The former Foreign Secretary said the two countries have
already found the 'modus vivendi' (agreeing to disagree) to
deal the boundary issue and to manage their different
approaches to issues where their peripheries overlap.
"India and China both cooperate and compete at the same
time because of their interests and how they perceive the
balance of power and situation around them," Menon said at a
seminar organised by Indian Council for World Affairs to
commemorate 60th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties.
"While there may be differences in method and choice of
tools, in most cases there is a marked similarity of goals,"
he said, adding "Naturally, the bilateral modus vivendi which
has been in place for some time may need to be reworked
periodically in the light of developments in our countries and
around us."
Menon said there was space in Asia and the world for
both India and China to grow and develop and "for us to do so
in a way that is mutually-reinforcing, if we both wish it."
As the two countries continue to pursue their interests,
he said, "we also have the experience and ability in India and
China to continue to manage our relationship successfully."
He said it was "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."
In the immediate region in which both countries are
located, there is common ground between India and China on
combating terrorism and extremism, enhancing maritime
security, and on the need for a peaceful environment to permit
the domestic transformation of the two countries, Menon said.
The NSA identified climate change and financial crisis
as other areas where the two countries have cooperated and
could continue that.
"So long as their overwhelming pre-occupation remains
their domestic transformation, and both understand that this
goal requires a peaceful periphery, it is my understanding
that the elements of competition in the bilateral relationship
can be managed and the elements of congruence can be built
upon.
"As our interests get progressively more complex, the
costs of withdrawal from engagement rise," he said.
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.
"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 disapproved of "the shrill and over excitable
commentary on the relationship that has appeared in both
countries in the last year or so."
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan
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.
He said efforts should be made by both China and India
to properly handle public opinion which is "vitally important"
to the development of the relations.
"Two countries should provide correct guidance to the
public opinion and avoid war of words," Zhang said. PTI SKU
AHM