Modi may become a Nixon-like statesman, says China daily

By NewsGram Staff Writer

An article in a leading state-run newspaper of China, the Global Times, linked the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to former US president Richard Nixon. The article stated that Modi's China visit could become an ice- breaking visit, just like Nixon's 1972 visit. The English daily also stated that Modi has the capacity to resolve the issues between the two Asian countries.

Nixon's visit was considered an important step in normalizing relations between the US and China, as it ended 25 years of separation between the two countries. PM Modi is expected to do the same during his three-day visit to China.

"Modi is considered as a state leader with strategic insights," the Global Times stated.

"He may become a Nixon-style statesman because of his pragmatism and capacity to resolve major contradictions between China and India and to tackle the common challenges of development," added the China daily.

The article titled "Modi's Nixonian pragmatism refreshes ties," published on the second day of Modi's three-day visit to China, praised Modi for his "strategic insights" and "pragmatism." Interestingly, a few days ahead of the visit, the same English daily had used "pragmatism" in a negative manner to criticize Modi. The article had stated, "Ever since Modi assumed office, he has taken the initiative to actively develop India's relationships with Japan, the US, and European countries in no time, in order to promote the country's poor infrastructure construction and economic development. But his diplomatic moves last year have proven that he is a pragmatist, rather than a visionary."

This latest article, written by Y A Liu Zongyi, stated, "Modi's victory in the country's general elections last May has injected enormous confidence into India's economic development as well as offering hope to the US, Japan and other nations attempting to take advantage of New Delhi to contain China."

Liu Zongyi appealed to the two Asian giants to work together in harmony in order to achieve "common development." He referred to the boundary disputes as an enigma in the relationship between the two countries.

"The boundary disputes are a conundrum in the bilateral relationship," said the article, while adding, "If they can't be solved at an earlier date, the two sides should more closely stick to the code of conduct they reached before."

The article also talked about the economic ties between India and China stating, "New Delhi also holds an ambiguous attitude toward China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative," which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and other regional economic cooperation plans.

"Though it joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member, there are suspicions among some Indian scholars that the bank will serve as an instrument of Chinese foreign and strategic policy," wrote Zongyi in the article.

The piece also stated that both the countries should make efforts to bridge the differences between them.

It concluded, "It is a long-term task for the two sides to establish mutual strategic trust, but political resolutions of powerful leaders will inevitably accelerate this process."