China think-tank warns Narendra Modi over ties

BEIJING: A Chinese think-tank has cautioned BJP leader Narendra Modi against winning votes at the cost of India-China ties while citing his "provocative speech in the disputed area ( Arunachal Pradesh)".

"Votes cannot be won at the cost of the future of the Sino-Indian relationship," wrote Shanghai Institute of International Studies researcher Liu Zongyi in Communist Party-controlled Global Times. "The relations between the two countries should not fall victim to India's partisan conflicts..."

Liu indicated that an antagonistic stance towards China could affect investments.

"If the next Indian administration is willing to draw more investment from China, it can become a major step to facilitate India's economic growth and economic cooperation between China and India." The researcher said trust between both nations can only be built step by step, and the loss of ruining the trust "will far outweigh the petty benefits acquired through it". Liu hoped 2014 would be named as the year of friendship between the two countries.