Chinese media backs Ramesh on easing trade barriers

I / Beijing May 11, 2010, 13:59 IST

As Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh faces heat back home for his support to boosting trade with Beijing, the Chinese media has come out in his favour pressing for removal of "needless restrictions" on the country's investment in India.

Terming Ramesh's approach as "prudent", the China Daily in an editorial said India should view its trade ties with China from the "broader perspective" and demanded that obstacles in the way of bilateral trade should be rooted out.

While backing Indian Environment minister's suggestions on trade and investment, the Chinese media rejected his comments on the diversion of Brahmaputra water. The paper, whose comments are normally viewed as official, said India should treat China more as a trustworthy partner rather than a potential competitor.

"A higher degree of political trust is needed to build a healthier economic and trade relationship," it said.

Earlier, Ramesh, in remarks made to Indian media in Beijing had hit out at Home Ministry for putting up 'needless' restrictions on trade and investment from China and was reprimanded by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for these comments

Global Times, a sister concern of the ruling Communist Party's official organ Peoples Daily, entirely focused its write up on Ramesh comments on Brahmaputra river waters with the story title "India questions Chinese projects over shared river".

"China's and India's final resolution on territorial sovereignty is the prerequisite for mutual cooperation on trans-boundary waters," it quoted Ma Jiali, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations as saying in reaction to Ramesh's remarks that it will be difficult for India to accept any plans by China to divert Brahmaputra river waters.

"Indian media exaggerate the fear of the Indian government on the trans-boundary waters issue to a large extent. Presently, the Chinese government has no water-diversion plan for the Yarlung Zangbo River (the Chinese name for Brahmaputra)," he said.

"Although some water dams are operating on the tributary of the river, they do not impact the downstream Brahmaputra River in India," Ma said, stressing that the construction of Chinese hydro-electric projects adhered to the principles of fully considering the legal rights of countries downstream.

Ramesh also mentioned that the real concern for India was the absence of any water-sharing agreement to regulate any future use of trans-boundary waters and India should accelerate its own hydro power project.