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‘Ambassador, will my India visa take 10 months?’
A Chinese journalist stood up and told Ambassador S Jaishankar that he was ‘astonished’ by the Indian Embassy’s world map and its ‘different’ depiction of the India-China border.
A Chinese journalist stood up and told Ambassador S Jaishankar that he was ‘astonished’ by the Indian Embassy’s world map and its ‘different’ depiction of the India-China border.
"I am sure as you are astonished by Indian maps of China, Indians are astonished by Chinese maps of India," Jaishankar replied, before projecting bilateral business and not the border dispute as the ‘face’ of India’s future relationship with China.
It was Jaishankar’s first major media conference since he took over as Ambassador in August amid increased reports of border incursions and rising trade, diplomatic and visa disputes with China.
India wants to move on next year — the 60th year of diplomatic relations — with an unprecedented campaign to map 48 Chinese cities with business and cultural events.
The outreach was evident on Thursday over an 11-course Chinese banquet of duck and beef instead of biryani.
"We need to fully grasp the potential of China’s rise, and some years behind, of India as well," said Jaishankar. “The possibilities of cooperation to address new demands on a large scale are limited only by our own prejudices.”
At every event, Indian diplomats in Beijing and Shanghai are also demanding balanced trade for Indian hi-tech products to enter China. Jaishankar said the Indian industry has an impression that the Chinese market is not offering fair opportunities.
"This needs urgent correction since we can only grow by growing together."
Indian IT companies want to address IT demands of China’s state-owned companies. Indian industry expects inclusion in Chinese tendering and review of certain import duties. Pharmaceutical companies want faster approvals.
"We have a tradition of working together," he said, reminding the audience that India was the first non-socialist nation to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic.
"Through events in 48 Chinese cities, we want to remind new generations in China of that tradition."
The big questions of the border and visa disputes will still follow India on the China road.
A journalist of China Central Television told Jaishankar that her Chinese colleague in India warned her she may have to wait 10 months for a visa for her Indian posting. "Is this reasonable, necessary and true?" she asked as the hall fell silent.
"Reasonable? No," replied Jaishankar. "Is it true? I hope not. Is it necessary? Definitely not." He pointed to an official at her table. "If you don’t hear from us in six weeks, call him."
