India's ambassador to China S Jaishankar also said, 'If there is a lack of trust between the two countries the real issues between them should be addressed.'
The best way to reduce the trust deficit between India and China is to respect each other's core interests, India's top enovy in Beijing said today as he pitched for more trade, investments and openings for Bollywood movies here to enable it to reduce the huge trade deficit.
In a frank and candid live discussion on the state-run CCTV, India's ambassador to China S Jaishankar said "if there is a lack of trust between the two countries the real issues between them should be addressed."
Asked about environment minister Jairam Ramesh's recent comments that India should not view China as a threat and there should no restrictions on Chinese trade and investments in India, Jaishankar evaded a direct reply, saying "I don't think ambassadors comment on minsters...".
"Let me address the substance of the issue: If we are looking at lack of trust or inadequacy of trust between India and China, we have to accept that there are real issues out there," he said.
Core interest is the most fashionable term in China which broadly related to its integrity, peace and security, he said.
Likewise, "India too has its own core interests. Public perception will always be coloured by where another country stand vis a vis India's core interests. If there is image of China with broader public, it is tested against what the public believes are the core interest of India."
He was apparently referring to China's stand on Kashmir, issuance of stapled visas to Kashmiris travelling to China and Beijing recent decision to build two nuclear plants in Pakistan.
On the issue of Chinese investments in India, Jaishankar said there are far more Chinese companies in India doing much business in India than Indian companies in China and called for more openings for Indian trade and businesses in Chinese markets.
"To be more candid with you, Indian economy is far more open to Chinese businesses than Chinese economy is to Indian business. You see that in numbers," he said referring to the growing trade deficit between the two countries, which touched $16 billion last year.
"The trade gap alone is more than India's export to China. I do not think it is just an issue of regulation," he said.
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