BANGALORE: Consul-General of People’s Republic of China Niu Qingbao said China would not allow any anti-India elements to operate on its soil.
Speaking to Express here on Wednesday, the Chinese diplomat said despite several hiccups, the bilateral and the trade relations between India and China were growing. “Any other dispute between the two nations can be sorted out,” he said. He added that China expected India not to allow the Tibetan spiritual head, the Dalai Lama, to engage in any anti-China activity. “India and China are neighbours. China regards India as its most preferred friend.”
He stressed that the Dalai Lama’s exit from China in 1959 created misunderstandings between the two countries. Qingbao claimed that the Dalai Lama no longer enjoys popular support in Tibetan province of China.
Informing that bilateral trade between China and India was witnessing a high growth in recent years, he said trade volume between two countries was $73.79 billion, which was 20 per cent more than that in the corresponding period last year.
“Trade between these two ancient countries are expected to cross over $100 billion by 2015,” he said.
Qingbao said China exported home appliances, manufacturing products and electronic worth over $40 billion against India’s export of about $20 billion. Chemicals, coal, iron-ore and other manufacturing goods were imported from India.
Referring to the recent setback at the World Trade Organisation with regard to natural resources for trade, the Chinese diplomat said a country had every right to defend its environment. “Unlike the Western countries, India and China are the two most populous countries and causing damage to environment would badly affect the future generation,” he said. He added that many Chinese wanted to pursue higher studies in India.
However, he felt that issues relating to visa and other matters needed to be sorted out first.
Qingbao said about 1 lakh Indian students were studying in China, while about 2,000 Chinese students were studying in India.