India strengthens economic ties with China but still wary on security front

Kolkata, Aug 26 (ANI): Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju has said that while India is strengthening its economic ties with China, it will not downplay any sort of possible threat perception.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Raju said, "There has not been any violation or there have not been any skirmishes. You must appreciate that. And at the same time our economic relationship is building up, which is taking the focus away from a non-issue like this,"Earlier this month, India and China had held the thirteenth round of talks to resolve their long simmering border dispute in New Delhi.

India's National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo resumed the talks after a year's gap, focusing on narrowing down differences along their Himalayan border.

The two sides reportedly discussed the language of partnership, highlighted by a burgeoning trade and a common position on climate change and global trade talks.

China has emerged as India's largest trading partner, replacing US in 2008-09.

The bilateral trade engagement between India and China stood at nearly 36 billion dollars in April to February 2008-09, an increase of nearly seven percent in the year ago period.

In the context of these progressive developments, Raju said that New Delhi is fully prepared to deal with any possible eventuality.

"We are fully conscious of threat perception and as a nation we are totally prepared to deal with any eventuality," he added. (ANI)