XI Jinping caught by Modi, bowled by Modi

No, it is not a cricket match between China and India.  But all around India, there is a spur of activities mainly in the government sector to increase the trade bonding between the two countries. Again a pat on Modi as in the recent past, there was no so much so hullabaloo for visit of any Chinese high level dignitaries.  The President of China, Xi Jinping will be visiting India on the 17th instant, fly down to Ahmedabad to have a business meeting with Modi. The government officials are already lined up in Ahmedabad to supervise this high level meeting where a number of memorandum of understandings is going to be signified to augment the bi-lateral trade.  These MOUs include several industrial projects in the state of Gujarat.  The agreement between China Development Bank (CDB) and Gujarat Industrial Extension Bureau will substantiate the financial aid and pattern of these projects. There will be other MOUs between the Gujarat government and the Guangdong province of China and between the Chinese city of Guangzhou and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The big industrialists, business honchos from financial and banking sectors and a few prominent business conglomerates are invited to illuminate this strategic meeting.

CDB is committed to develop a special industrial park and other industrial projects in India.  The prominent Chinese companies are alluring our government officials to corner a major share of Ahmedabad- Gandhinagar metro rail project, ports and many other industrial activities in Gujarat. Apart from Gujarat, the Chinese Government is contemplating to industrialize Pune and Coimbatore cities.  They are mainly keen to improvise the business deal in the sectors of railways, port, food processing, textile park, energy development, water resources management and environmental up-gradation.  They also opine to strengthen the cultural ties and people to people contact.

The various agendas of this ensuing visit start from the guard of honor with Insas rifles followed by business meetings, dinner party almost like a grand gala dinner and a stroll in the riverfront park situated on the west bank of Sabarmati Ashram. The riverfront park will be decorated with the beauties of dazzling lights and the fountain just to have a panoramic view of the place by the Chinese President.  After all, he is coming with a basket of 100 billion trades in a span of 5 years.  Needless to say, it is 3 times more than the investment proposed by the Japanese Prime Minister.

It seems there is a new dawn in the backdrop of bonhomie between these two leaders.  Xi Jinping is recognized to be one of the strategic leaders of the 21^st Century.  But the pertinent question whether this thick relationship can wipe out the dark clouds developed so far mostly based on a political vendetta.  The economic tie-up is a good and prosperous phenomenon, but the political skirmishes, if not settled then this huge investment alone cannot solidify the relationship like a brick and mortar.

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Xi Jinping is interested to enhance the economic tie-up with India to increase both the country’s GDP to a level anticipated by the leaders.  But this is not only the factor for his endearment.  All these days, US is granted as a super power and reigning the whole world.  China wants to dethrone them and for that matter, the President wants Modi in his stride to accomplish his latent desire.

The main hypothesis lie whether China will develop a new role model drifting away from their assertiveness, aggressiveness and seeming annoyance when it comes to political resolution and settlement thereof.  If they want to establish themselves as a super power in Asia, they have to show their demeanor amicably and handle all political issues smoothly.  Sadly, they are not following the contents in a style, which is required to be dealt with the world.  No doubt, Chinese culture and civilization is a very old one and a respectable proposition, but they have to exert a fatherly figure to enjoy the rapport of every country in the world.

Barring an economic strengthening, China needs to discuss sensitive issues of PLA infiltration, trade barriers faced by Indian experts, their open support to Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.  All these days, China show complete indifference whenever there is a cross border terrorism instigated by Pakistan. The issues related to Arunachal Pradesh’s territory and stapled visas are also some political concerns, which cannot be overlooked. If Xi Jinping can address all these issues and come to an amicable win-win situation, then a new path of building trust will be opened. Further, they need to have a serious confabulation on FTA, which will create a common market for 2-5 billion people.  If Mr. President does not glue his eyes to all these state of affairs, no matter how much cooperation is established for economic development, a serious bonding in terms of people to people contact  and country to country relationship will not materialize soon.

As stated above, establishing a technological park here and a textile park there or investing a huge sum for bullet train projects will not suffice the purpose. The dumping of Chinese goods, their not so spontaneous support for India’s membership in UN Security Council are some of the examples which are detrimental to augment the relationship. The Chinese lukewarm attitude for India’s membership of SCO and APEC and their entry into the nuclear room of the world convey Chinese leader’s attitudinal preference to curb India’s popularity.

Despite all these, if Xi Jinping continues to sing the beginning of a new era of social-political relationship, the same is most welcome.  Otherwise, even a big investment will jeopardize the wholehearted efforts of Modi, but for the time being, it seems that Xi Jinping is caught and bowled by Modi’s astute political style of function.