US optimistic on solution to Indo-China border dispute: Kelly

Itanagar, Jun 16 (UNI) Director of the Kolkata-based American Center Douglas G Kelly said the US was optimistic about an amicable settlement to the border dispute between India and China.

Speaking at a press meet here yesterday, Mr Kelly said the coming together of three powerful neighbours - India, China and Russia - would pose no threat to the US as the cold war era had ended.

''It is a matter of relief for the US that there has been no tension along the Indo-China border since the 1962 war which is a good sign for the South East Asian region,'' he added.

He claimed that the US, in its self-interest, would like to see India grow stronger to counter-balance China.

When asked to specify whom America would prefer to side with, Mr Kelly said, ''Obviously, majority of Americans respect the deep-rooted democratic set up in India in comparison to the Communist rule in China.'' Dwelling on the growing Indo-US relations in the post-Cold War era, the director said the vast Indian market, along with its software manpower, was welcomed by US companies who had been urging for increased cooperation.

He also hoped for larger concentration of software companies in Eastern and Northeast region, adding that the American companies had to come to grips with the reality of isolation facing the NE, which perhaps explained very little investment in the region.

If the surface communication could be developed either through Bangladesh or Myanmar, it could have made better room for investment opportunities, he added.

He claimed that the American universities were very much keen on forging educational linkages with the varsities in India, paving way for exchange programmes of both academics and students pursuing higher studies.

He said that the American Center was looking forward to bring NE under the educational linkage programme on the line of Jadavpur, Burdwan and Calcutta Universities, which had already established linkages with different US varsities.

''I have already contacted the Rajiv Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor and other faculty members to explore such possibility on educational linkages, especially in the department of tribal studies,'' he said adding bio-diversity was another area where educational linkages could be made.

Stressing the need for active participation in conservation of environment, Mr Kelly said the challenges of climate change necessitated bringing Arunachal Pradesh under the conservation programme as it was directly affected, being part of the Himalayan belt.

While emphasising on the need for striking a balance between conservation and development, the director admitted that care must be taken of the environment while implementing hydropower projects, especially mega-dams.

UNI