Beijing: Unfazed by concerns over
'invasion' of Chinese goods in India, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Sunday asked the Indian Inc to "think big" and learn to
compete while noting that there was enough space for the two
countries to grow and a "historic necessity" to work together.
Column: Why should we trust China? | Full coverage: PM’s visit to China
"We must engage China and learn to both compete and
cooperate," he told a high-level Indian business delegation
in the run-up to the India-China business summit in Beijing
on Monday.
The industry leaders including CII chief Sunil Mittal
and FICCI President F Khorakiwala sought the Prime Minister's
intervention with Beijing for early removal of trade and
non-trade barriers.
"Indian business should think big. Indian business is
ready to face the brave new world of globalisation. China is
an important part of that brave new world of globalisation,"
Singh said at the 45-minute meeting.
The Prime Minister noted that a large part of the
thinking in both the countries was shaped by western views of
China and felt there was need for a better understanding of
the processes of change in this country.
"At a time when there are concerns about a global
economic slowdown, China and India can sustain global growth
through their own development," he said.
Singh said "It is a historic necessity for the two great
neighbours to work together. There will be areas of
competition, and there will be areas for cooperation. There
is enough space in the world for both countries to continue
to grow.
"The rise of China and India should be viewed as an
'international public good' by the global community since it
offered new opportunities to sustain global growth, he said.