This clearly indicates China's expansionist agenda, albeit through trade and infrastructure, against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's plea to balance out trade as the two countries aim for 100 billion dollars in bilateral trade by 2015.
Interestingly, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Rajya Sabha member Mukut Mihti in January last had vouched for reopening the historic Stillwell road that would link Assam's Ledo to Kunming in China.
"The road connectivity would help translate Look East Policy to reality as has been stressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. We should improve our bilateral relations with all our neighbouring countries, including China, to improve our trade and commerce while tourism would grow multi-fold with the reopening of the road," Tuki had told ANI.
Mithi, who frequents SEA nations, also advocated it on the basis of recommendation of a parliamentary delegation to Myanmar given to the PM.
Mithi who had led Indian delegation, including MPs P D Rai and Thomas Sangma, all from North East India to the Myanmar Global Investment Forum jointly organized by Myanmar Investment Commission and Hong Kong-based Euromoney Institutional Investor (JERSEY) Ltd in September, 2012.
The trio had called on Myanmar External Affairs Minister Wunna Maung Lwin and Border Affairs Minister Lt Gen Thein Htay at Naypyidaw, new capital city of Myanmar where they discussed development tasks along the border between the two countries and coordination in transport, education and health sectors. Reopening of the Ledo road was a priority agenda, Mithi disclosed.
"Myanmar is keen on reopening the road not through Kachin due to some internal problems but by linking it to Mandalay. The road would be linked to the tri-junction, facilitating link to Changlang in Arunachal and Moreh in Manipur. The link to Mandel would be a road to the rich SEA nations where world's 50% rich live," Mithi added.
Arunachal Pradesh, the eastern most state of India, being the best window to SE Asian nations, should be more accessible by reopening the Stillwell road soon as the government of India has already opened a borer trade centre at Nampon in Changlang district, 12 km off Myanmar borer Pangasau Pass and at Moreh too.
Bilateral trade between India and China touched $73 billion in 2011, making China India's largest trade partner, but slipped to $66 billion last year.
"While we are committed to the $100 billion by 2015 we will have to have a more balanced rate," said the senior government official, who was briefed about the restricted meeting.
India is pressing for greater access for its pharmaceuticals and IT services.
China attaches great importance to the China-India trade deficit issue. We are willing to expand our market for India's products and provide facilitation," Deputy Foreign Minister Song Tao said last week.
Up from next to nothing in the 1990s, trade has been heavily skewed in favor of China. It exports power and telecoms equipment to its neighbor, which as one of the world's fastest growing major economies could offer brighter opportunities for business than the stagnant West.
"We stand ready to embrace the world with a more open mind and hope that the world will view China with a calm frame of mind," Li, visiting India nearly 27 years after he made his last trip here, wrote in an editorial, published in The Hindu.
"As I have predicted in the past, China has emerged the most cunning global traders after the Westerners by citing the example of largest Chinese carriers shipping Christmas gifts for sale in the western world after its economy took a nose drive, particularly after a US child died and 19 others needed surgery since 2003 after swallowing magnets used in toys reportedly having poisonous content and Beijing recalled millions of Chinese-made toys, including popular Barbie, Polly Pocket and "Cars" movie items from world market.
"There can't be a greater market for China than India whose population stood at 121 crore today. China has already won trade war against India long ago with its products even selling throughout North East including Arunachal Pradesh. LiuGong Machinery Corp, founded in 1958 in Liuzhou and world's largest manufacturer of wheel loaders, has been doing brisk trading in the NE."
Singh said that the rise of India and China is good for the world and the world has enough space for both while Li said that five areas covered in the joint statement include liberalization of trade and investment and increasing people-to-people cooperation.
This doubly proves my opinion expressed in - Incursion row fizzles out, '1962-like fear' turns into UPA victory.
Attn: News Editors/News Desks: The views expressed in the above article are that of Mr. Prakash Singh, Editor-in-Chief , Arunachal Front.
