ABSTRACT
There has been a discernible shift in Sino-Indian elite dialogue.1 Overall, diplomatic exchanges between India and China have taken a friendlier tone and indicate that a mutual understanding is developing between the world’s most populous states. The recent success in the Sino-Indian economic relationship has been a key catalyst in stimulating this emerging understanding. For instance, Premier Wen Jiabao made encouraging comments about the burgeoning Sino-Indian relationship at the ASEAN conference in Vientiane (November, 2004). According to Wen, “We are happy about the rapid growth of India’s economy and its continuously enhanced influence in the world.” Commenting on the border issue, Wen noted that, “We believe that if abiding by the principle of equal consultation, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, the two sides can find solutions to this issue through sincere negotiations” (“Wen Jiabao . . .,” 2004; Li, 2005).
