New dawn in Sino-Indian ties

Even though China has been uneasy with India’s growing ties with the US, especially in the aftermath of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal -- Beijing interpreting the move as a ploy by Washington to prop up New Delhi as a rival, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s visit to the country has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Moreover, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to visit Japan next week -- a trip that will surely be closely monitored in Bejing as the Shinzo Abe-led Japanese government has raised hackles with their revisionist version of the World War II history. Tempers are also high in East Asia due to the lingering dispute over Senkaku or Diaoyu islands, which had flared up after Japan government bought the isles from its private owner in September 2012.

Li also talked about the need for the two Asian giants to work closer.  Li began his speech with a ‘namaste’, which was greeted by applause from the elite gathering.  “I learnt this greeting 27 years ago. I didn’t have the opportunity to say it in the last 27 years, so I don’t know if I said it correctly,” he said.

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