Implement consensus, manage differences, and push China-India relations back to the right track
——Sun Weidong, Ambassador to India, gave a video talk on the current Sino-Indian relations
On July 10, Sun Weidong, ambassador to India, gave a video conversation on the current Sino-Indian relations, emphasizing that China and India should be partners, not opponents; peace, no conflict; cooperation and win-win, zero-sum game; trust, no suspicion ; To move forward, not backward. The two sides should firmly grasp the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, implement the consensus of the special call, focus on friendship and cooperation, resolve suspicions and doubts, properly handle differences and sensitive issues, overcome the challenges facing the current Sino-Indian relations, and promote the return of bilateral relations The right track for health and stability. The full text of Ambassador Sun’s talk is as follows:
On June 15th, casualties occurred in the Gallevan Valley in the western section of the Sino-Indian border. This is a situation that neither side wants to see.
On July 5th, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Special Representative of China and India on the border issue, and Doval’s national security adviser held a phone call to reach a positive consensus on easing the current situation on the border. At present, the armed forces of the two sides are disengaging from the ground in accordance with the consensus reached at the military-level meetings between the two countries.
In the recent period, Indian public opinion has questioned the consensus of the leaders of the two countries and misunderstood the direction of Sino-Indian relations. This has caused interference in bilateral relations.
I think that at present, China and India should clarify several fundamental issues:
First, China and India should be partners, not opponents.
Both China and India are ancient civilizations. Friendly exchanges have a history of more than 2,000 years. Friendly cooperation takes up most of the time. The first priority of China and India is to achieve development and revitalization. In this general direction, China and India have long-term common strategic interests.
Since the 1990s, China and India have reached an important consensus that they do not pose a threat to each other. During the informal meeting in Wuhan in 2018, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi reiterated that China and India should insist on mutual development opportunities and not pose a threat to each other. This has made a basic judgment on Sino-Indian relations and pointed out the direction for the development of bilateral relations.
I have noticed some recent arguments that negate the nature of China-India friendship because of the incidents involved, arbitrarily speculate on China’s intentions, exaggerate conflicts, provoke confrontation, and treat thousands of years of friendly neighbors as “enemies” and “strategic threats”. This is unrealistic and totally harmful.
China and India jointly promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and both pursue an independent foreign policy. The two sides deserve to view each other as a positive factor in the change of world power, and regard each other as their partner in achieving development and revitalization. China hopes that it will develop well and that India will develop well. Only by taking a positive, open, and inclusive attitude and viewing each other's strategic intentions correctly can we ensure that the bilateral relationship is stable and far-reaching and prevent strategic misjudgments.
Second, China and India want peace and no conflict.
Both China and India will benefit both sides, while fighting will hurt both. It is inevitable that there are some differences between the two neighboring powers. The two sides have been controlling differences through dialogue and negotiation. The two sides should always proceed from the overall situation of the development of bilateral relations and properly handle their differences in an appropriate position. They must not be allowed to interfere with bilateral relations.
China and India have border issues left over from history. This issue is sensitive and complex, and it is necessary to seek a fair and reasonable solution acceptable to both parties through equal consultation and peaceful negotiation. Before the final settlement, the two sides agreed to work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area.
At present, the two sides have established many mechanisms such as a special meeting on border issues, and the channels of communication at the diplomatic and military levels are smooth. In the recent two-generation talks between the two countries, the two sides agreed to follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and believe that maintaining peace and tranquility in the border area is crucial to the long-term development of bilateral relations. The border issue should be placed in an appropriate position in bilateral relations. To avoid the rise of differences into disputes; reaffirm the observance of a series of agreements and agreements signed by the two countries on the border issue, and work together to ease the situation in the border areas.
Since ancient times, China has always advocated "putting peace on top." We are neither easy to fight nor aggressive. The truth of the Calvin Valley incident is very clear. China will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as border areas and peace.
I believe that China and India have enough wisdom and ability to properly handle differences and not fall into the trap of conflict. China and India are partners who seek common development, not opponents or adversaries. Why should they fight with each other and do something that hurts the loved ones?
Third, China and India want to achieve win-win cooperation without zero-sum games.
China and India are the two largest developing countries and emerging economies. Development is the common goal of China and India and the most important meeting point of interests. At present, China and India share a common enemy, and that is the epidemic of the new coronavirus. The virus knows no borders. In the face of this major test facing mankind, China and India are comrades in the same trench. We should strengthen cooperation in the fight against epidemics and overcome difficulties together.
The China-India market has huge potential and strong economic complementarity. The two sides can achieve mutual benefit and win-win through cooperation. China has been India's largest trading partner for many years in a row, and its cumulative investment in India has exceeded 8 billion US dollars. Sino-Indian economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the development of Indian mobile phones, white goods, infrastructure, automobile manufacturing and other industries, but also created a large number of local jobs.
Some arguments advocated the "decoupling" of Sino-Indian economic and trade relations, in an attempt to completely exclude "Made in China". A basic fact they overlooked is that the formation of global industrial chains and supply chains has been the natural choice for market optimization for decades. India’s business community and people are the beneficiaries of Sino-Indian economic and trade cooperation. Any self-protection, non-tariff barriers, and restrictive measures against Chinese exclusion are unfair to Chinese companies, unfair to Indian employees who have lost their jobs, and Indian consumers who do not receive the products and services they deserve. Fairness, harming others but not self-interest, will eventually hurt themselves.
The leaders of China and India have decided to set up a high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism, strengthen the strategic integration of economic development, and explore the establishment of a "manufacturing partnership". The two countries have broad prospects for practical cooperation. We must transmit and implement the consensus of the leaders, maintain and promote the normal exchanges between the two countries, and avoid expanding and complicating the dispute. Only by sticking to openness and cooperation can we get out of the haze of the epidemic and find a way to economic recovery at an early date.
Fourth, China and India should trust and not be jealous.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that for Sino-Indian relations to be stable and to develop, the basis is mutual trust. This reveals the key to Sino-Indian relations. If China and India want to speed up their own development and revitalization, mutual respect and mutual support are the right way, which is in the long-term interests of the two countries; mutual suspicion and mutual friction are evil roads, which violate the fundamental aspirations of the two peoples.
To achieve mutual trust, we must achieve mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and be open and inclusive. We must insist on respecting and taking care of each other’s core interests and major concerns, adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, insist on seeking common ground while reserving differences, and do not impose our will on others. It is necessary to insist on keeping faith and upholding justice, say what you do, and effectively implement the consensus reached by both parties.
Both sides should carry out strategic communication in a timely manner, enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, manage differences through dialogue, and firmly grasp the general direction of the development of bilateral relations. During the conversation, the special representatives of the two countries agreed to strengthen communication through the special representative meeting mechanism, hold non-stop meetings on the consultation and coordination mechanism for Sino-Indian border affairs, and constantly improve and strengthen confidence-building measures in the border area to avoid affecting peace and tranquility in the border area. The incident happened again. These will effectively promote the strategic mutual trust between the two countries.
Fifth, Sino-Indian relations should move forward, not backward.
This year is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. After 70 years of ups and downs, Sino-Indian relations have condensed the wisdom and hard work of several generations. The progress achieved has not been easy to come by. We should cherish it more and we must not easily deny it. In the current international situation, China-India relations have surpassed bilateral scope and have global strategic significance. There is an ancient Chinese poem, "Don't be afraid of the clouds to cover your eyes, but only at the highest level." The current Sino-Indian relations are facing a complicated situation. Both sides should ascend and look far, look at the overall situation and work together to overcome and reverse it as soon as possible.
Both China and India should move towards each other, expand the positive aspects of cooperation, reduce negative factors, and do nothing that would undermine mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides. Under the epidemic situation, the two sides should actively explore new ways and channels to enhance mutual exchanges and understanding between the two peoples and create a good atmosphere for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. The media of the two countries should also report objectively, rationally, and responsibly, avoid inciting opposing emotions, and contribute positive energy to the stable and healthy development of Sino-Indian relations.
When the shadow of bilateral relations emerges, it is particularly important to firmly grasp the consensus of the leaders of the two countries. I believe that as long as the two sides follow the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, implement the consensus of the two sides on behalf of the call, focus on friendship and cooperation, resolve suspicions and doubts, and properly handle differences and sensitive issues, they will certainly be able to overcome the current challenges facing China-India relations. Push the relations between the two countries back to the correct track of health and stability.