China and India, the two biggest nations in Asia, should pose no
threat to each other, Vice-Premier
Qian Qichen said yesterday when meeting Indian Foreign Minister
Jaswant Singh.
Qian pointed out that both countries, no matter what the issue
might be, should not adopt a confrontational approach.
Singh arrived in Beijing yesterday morning on the first direct
flight between the world's two most populous countries.
Direct flights between China and India started on Thursday, with
the first plane leaving Beijing for New Delhi and returning to
Beijing yesterday morning.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also held a meeting with Singh
yesterday.
Qian ascribed great significance to the inauguration of direct
flights, saying they will not only facilitate exchanges between the
two peoples but also promote mutually beneficial co-operation
between the enterprises of the two countries.
Qian said Indian leaders had expressed on many occasions that India
does not regard China as a threat to India and China also does not
see India as a threat, noting that, as developing countries, both
China and India are faced with the heavy task of developing their
economies.
Both countries should concentrate on co-operation and co-ordination
in regional and international affairs to maintain peace and
stability in the region, Qian said.
(China
Daily March 30, 2002)