Ahead of his state visit to China, President Pranab Mukherjee said India seeks a “fair, reasonable” and mutually acceptable settlement of boundary question which will help in achieving full potential of Sino-India relationship. The first state visit begins 24th May. In reply to a question about some “sensitive problems” left over from history between India and China, Mukherjee said India would like to expand and diversify its engagement with China across various fields while “proactively addressing outstanding issues” including the boundary question. Increasing mutual trust and understanding through stepped-up dialogue on political, security and strategic issues is favoured alongwith expanding defence exchanges and increase economic engagement, especially through greater investments and “functional cooperation at international fora” which is what India is looking forward. India has been victim of terror activities for a very long period of time. We know how menacing terrorism is. India and China are both huge countries, multicultural and multiracial. “If we come together in fighting this menace, I am sure it would have its own impact,” Mukherjee said. India believes that every country should always have a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and the fight should be all-out, all comprehensive. There cannot be any qualification in fighting this menace. Terrorism in all manifestations, in all aspects, ought to be fought and for that, total cooperation amongst nations is absolutely necessary. President Mukherjee’s words are significant as they come weeks after China’s decision to block India’s moves to ban Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar at the UN Taliban Sanctions Committee. The move led to a strain in ties as India expressed its unhappiness over what was seen as an effort to shield Pakistan and Beijing refused to change its stand. Mukherjee’s visit marks the first Indian presidential visit to China since 2010 and is being seen as an effort to smooth over some of the issues that have come up in bilateral ties in his talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. China may have a flexible approach in respect of trade and foreign investments in sectors like pharmaceuticals and agro products where India has developed expertise and has emerged as an important global player and there is immense requirement in China.
