'Dragon' and 'elephant' can peacefully co-exist: China

Notwithstanding differences in Sino-India relations, China today said "sound and stable" development of ties in recent years has proved that the "dragon" and the "elephant" can join hands and peacefully co-exist.

"Once, predictions about our future relations dwelled on 'rivalry between the dragon and the elephant'. However, the sound and stable development of bilateral relations in recent years has proved that the 'dragon' and the 'elephant' can join hands to dance together," Minister Counsellor of Chinese Embassy Cheng Guangzhong said here.

Cheng, speaking at the inauguration of a China-themed book editorial office in India, said China and India with their distinctive histories, cultures and religions can bring their diversity into full play when cooperating with each other in different areas.

"Cultural exchanges and dialogues are crucial for the two countries to seek common ground while maintaining individual characteristics. Two of the oldest civilisations in the world, China and India, are more than capable of finding ways to achieve peaceful coexistence as giant neighbours," he said.

Noting that China and India are emerging markets with big potential for development, Cheng said, "We are also ancient civilisations with a time-honoured history and brilliant culture. The two neighbours have long engaged in exchanges and mutual learning. As major countries in Asia, China and India have always been a focus of attention."

leaders, who have helped forge China-India friendship, have said that a true Asian century will come only when China and India are both developed and that when India and China come together, it will be a big event for Asia and indeed even the world, he asserted.

"The two largest Asian nations bear the historical responsibility and mandate of the times to maintain peace and stability in Asia and achieve its prosperity and renewal," Cheng said.

China-India ties have recently been under stress due to issues like China's opposition to India's efforts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN and Beijing's efforts to scuttle India's membership bid at NSG.

China has also blocked a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra in Tibet as part of the construction of its "most expensive" hydro-power project, causing concern in India as it may impact water flows into the lower riparian countries. 

The event saw the launch of Chinese New World Press' first overseas editorial department in collaboration with General General Book Depot (GBD) from India.

"The objective of NWP is to make the world know about China..The harmonious and friendly China...And also the China that is always going to be India's friend," said Xiaohui Wang, Editor-in-Chief, CIPG, head company of New Word Press.

Kaushal Goyal, owner of GBD, said that the publishing house also plans to set up an editorial office in Beijing with New World Press (NWP) and that such collaborations were aimed at promoting strong international relations between the two countries.

"Our association will promote strong relationship including socio-cultural, history, economics and political issues, betweeen India and China," Goyal said.

GBD, which has already reprinted NWP's 'The Main Battlefield of the East' in English, is in the process of translating four other books by the Chinese publishing house in Hindi.