Source: Global Times

India's "The New Indian Express" July 23 article, original title: India and China Need to Stand on the Same Side of the Future In the emerging world order, India and China need to move forward together, which is not only for their own interests but also for other countries. The recent meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China in Beijing is undoubtedly a positive sign. For the future of both countries and the world, both sides must find an imaginative way of cooperation. Kautilya (an ancient Indian statesman and philosopher - Editor's note) is one of India's most important strategists, just as Sun Tzu is to China. Can their successors come together today?

As a member of the Indian delegation, I participated in the meeting where China was admitted to the World Trade Organization. Now, people are alert to the fact that the WTO has actually become dysfunctional, and the world order is also breaking down. India and China must take action because the West cannot continue to dominate the world. This view is well-supported. India and China have selectively learned from the West, but have never lost their respective civilizational identities. The lessons learned from the West have added new layers to their solid civilizational foundations, forming a unique "sandwich" civilizational structure that is rarely noticed but has distinct advantages.

Due to various reasons, relationships between countries can be close or distant at times. France and Britain once fought each other, but also jointly resisted external threats. During World War II, the US and the Soviet Union fought side by side, but later fell into a Cold War that lasted several decades. The fluctuations in national relations are because each country wants to act in its own interest. Given this, the uniqueness of India-China relations lies in the long-standing civilizational ties between the two countries, with some differences emerging recently. Both India and China have great "spiritual vitality," have experienced the history of being humiliated, and are now confidently moving forward to restore their former economic dominance.

In this process, China has achieved fruitful results and formidable strength in new technologies and R&D. Perhaps, India can explore its own development path by combining Indian manufacturing with Chinese technology - this should not be seen as an issue of national pride. Only when Indian industries significantly increase their R&D and new technology spending will there be hope for such an idea. China started by imitating the West in some areas, but now has strong R&D capabilities. For some reason, Indian companies have failed to do so for decades.

The following are possible synergistic effects in the strategic transformation of India and China.

From a civilizational dimension, in today's world, only the two ancient civilizations of India and China have shown resilience and survival wisdom that have endured for thousands of years. From a historical perspective, after experiencing confusion caused by colonial rule and foreign invasion, India and China are now striving to regain their long-standing important position. From a pragmatic perspective, China's modernization process has drawn on Western financial and manufacturing systems, but has maintained a state-led development model; India is also moving towards modernization, but maintains traditional inclusive and pluralistic governance characteristics.

From a technological endowment perspective, China has historically exported gunpowder and compasses, while India has exported philosophical, mathematical, and astronomical concepts. From a development approach perspective, China follows Confucian culture that promotes economic growth, while India continues the debating tradition that supports its entrepreneurial spirit. From a supply chain perspective, India and China are both important components of the global value chain; China dominates the global manufacturing value chain, while India controls key links in information processing.

In the construction of a future multi-polar world, it would be strategically valuable for India and China to be in the same group. Since commercial pragmatism can drive other countries to take related actions, why not let it drive India-China cooperation? The wisdom of Kautilya and Sun Tzu may converge and integrate. (Author: R. Gopalakrishnan, translated by Ding Ding)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530409809976328756/

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