China and India are reemerging in a mutually supportive manner, and their cooperation will benefit the world, said Ashok Kantha, the Indian ambassador to China.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Kantha, who will complete his tenure and leave China this week, said he has a "sense of deep satisfaction" as relations between the Asian neighbors have gained momentum since he took office in 2014, adding that "2016 will be another year of rich harvest."
According to Kantha, the last two years have been "the most productive phase" in the development of Sino-Indian ties, as shown by frequent high-level exchanges, especially the two "landmark" visits by leaders of the two countries.
In September 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping started his trip to India in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. In May 2015, Xi welcomed Modi to Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi Province and Xi's hometown.
In addition to reaching a series of agreements and understandings, the leaders also sent out "very powerful signals of the desire [by] India and China to work together," said Kantha.
China will host the G20 summit in Hangzhou City and the BRICS summit in 2016. These two major events will provide opportunities for engagement between the leaders, he said.
The reemergence of India and China is a defining development of the 21st century, and the two countries have to take into consideration each other's interests, concerns and aspirations, he added.
"My expectations for 2016 are optimistic and this is based on what we have achieved in recent years," he said. "It is based on a clear strategic consensus reached between the top leaders and the fact that India and China working together is of mutual advantage."
"We should be seen as contributors to each other's development. We've made progress, but much more work needs to be done," he said.
DESIRE FOR COOPERATION
China is one of India's largest trading partners, with two-way trade in 2015 expected to reach 100 billion U.S. dollars.
"We need to move to a more balanced trade relationship," said Kantha, adding that India is trying to expand its economic engagement and attract investment from Chinese companies.
While China has promoted strategies including Made in China 2025 and Internet Plus, India has launched initiatives such as Made in India, Digital India and Smart Cities. Kantha said these will create new opportunities for the two countries to contribute to each other's development.
