Trust building
China and India, both of which fought against semi-colonial or colonial rule, enjoy traditional friendship. However, exchanges between the two countries were interrupted by a border conflict in 1962.
Lou said the border dispute has severely hindered mutual trust. In the joint statement issued during Li's visit, both sides agreed to work together to maintain tranquility and peace in the border areas.
To address the newly emerging trade imbalance, the two sides agreed to improve ties between Chinese enterprises and the Indian IT industry, and expand border trade through the Nathu La border port. They also made an agreement on trade in buffalo meat, which could help redress the trade imbalance as Chinese demand for the meat is potentially worth $1.5 billion a year.
Cooperative projects concerning security issues are also included in the joint statement, which observers say could help promote mutual trust. They include expanding civil nuclear energy programs, enhancing cooperation on maritime security, holding joint military exercises as well as strengthening cooperation in naval escort missions to counter piracy in the Indian Ocean.
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Areas of Cooperation
- Bilateral relations: improving political trust and the great potential for trade and investment growth
- International issues: climate change, reform of the international system and protection of the shared interests of developing countries
- Regional outreach: development of the China-India-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor and consensus on Afghanistan's reconstruction
Points of Contention
- Territory: The 2,000-km border between China and India has never been formally demarcated
- Tibet: India hosts the Dalai Lama's "Central Tibetan Administration," which the Chinese Government accuses of attempting to separate Tibet from China
- Trade deficit: India ran a trade deficit of $28.87 billion with China in 2012
- Third party: India is cautious about China's close ties with its neighboring rival Pakistan |