BEIJING, July 30 — India and China are expanding their influence in their neighbourhood and sacrificing economic benefits in exchange of sound political influence in the region, Press Trust of India (PTI) reports quoting state media.
A likely topic to come up during Indian Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi visit to Nepal would be the revision of the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
“China, facing a similarly complex environment, is implementing neighbourhood diplomacy to realise healthier and more peaceful relations with neighbouring states — Modi is taking the same platform today,” said an op-ed published in Global Times run by ruling Communist Party.
“For emerging countries with global ambitions like China and India, developing beneficial polices toward small neighbours is a logical goal, since under certain circumstances both are willing to give up economic advantages in favour of political influence in the region,” it said.
Their simultaneous adoption of neighborhood diplomacy would no doubt help drive regional peace and development, the op-ed piece said. “Both want a healthy and peaceful regional environment.
Cooperation and agreement between China and India will be vital to the successful implementation of their plans for neighbourhood diplomacy,” it added.
-BERNAMA
