India, China still have ample scope to enhance ties, says Krishna

Beijing, Apr. 6 (ANI): Visiting External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Tuesday said there is still ample scope for enhancing Sino-India engagement, despite current unprecedented levels on various fronts.

Addressing a reception here to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, jointly organized by the Embassy of India and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Krishna said: Today, there is unprecedented engagement between India and China on many fronts, whether it be in trade and commerce, high level political interaction, contact between our defence establishments, cultural exchange, education, tourism and the environment, to name a few. Although unprecedented, this is but a fraction of what we can do together."

The minister said that both nations had come a long way since setting out on their respective journeys as two young nations sixty years ago.

"It was a time when we had both recently broken free from colonialism that had enslaved us and taken from us our energy and vitality. It was a time full of hope that we would regain for our great nations their rightful place in the world, when we could dream that our people would be free from oppression and want," Krishna said.

"We still have a long way to go. Not all our people are free from hunger, disease and want. But we can legitimately say that we have emerged as strong, vibrant countries on the way to fulfilling our tryst with destiny," he said.

"India and China may be young nations but are old civilizations. There is much that we have learnt from each other through our interaction over the centuries. There is much that we can learn from each other today. And, there is much that we can do together in the new world order that is emerging. Friendship and cooperation between India and China is not only in the vital interest of both our countries, but also for the world of tomorrow," he added.

"The sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations is an auspicious time to renew our efforts at deeper understanding, greater engagement and enhanced cooperation etween our two great nations and peoples," he concluded. By Lokendra Singh(ANI)