From China, a book on rising India-to provide a ‘better understanding of India’ to the Chinese.by an official Chinese foreign policy strategist-4/9/11

From China, a book on rising India


It’s common for foreign thinkers to write tomes on rising China but rarely does one receive an invitation in Beijing for the launch of a book on rising India by an official Chinese foreign policy strategist.

The rise of India is still an evolving debate inside think tanks advising Beijing on the strategic implications of the expanding economy across the border. Ma Jiali has advocated that China can pick up pointers from the experience of a rising India — he mentioned education and managing religious diversity to HT — in his 245-page book that describes modern India in Mandarin. The title literally translates as the Rising Elephant and the essays aim to provide a ‘better understanding of India’ to the Chinese.

The launch at the Indian embassy cultural centre took place last Thursday in a room packed with more Chinese than Indians in the audience. Ma is well known to the Indian diplomatic elite. In a nation with a scarcity of Chinese experts on India, Ma is an exception for having made 26 visits to India. Ambassador S Jaishankar released the book, with a message that India and China feel the impact of each other’s simultaneous rise in a direct manner as neighbours. It requires ‘careful handling’ of each other’s interests, and ’sound understanding’.

While India observes the China miracle to glean lessons for its own urban planning, I found it interesting that the author also points out that China too can learn from its largest neighbour. I managed to snatch a short conversation with Ma while the audience mingled over samosas and chai.

“India has so many advantages. China should learn about the IT and pharmaceutical industry and especially the education system in India,” he said, pointing out that the Indian postgraduates speak and write fluent English, unlike a majority of their counterparts in China. Asked his views on India’s growth as the second fastest growing major economy after China, he interrupted with a smile. “I wouldn’t call it the second fastest…I would call it another fast rising economy.”

At a time when Beijing is increasingly concerned about maintaining stability and social harmony, he suggests that China could learn from Indian ’social management’. “Frankly speaking, India has its social problems. In some cases…despite communal conflicts…India deals well in promoting religious understanding,” he said. “India and China should share each other’s knowledge and experience on social management.”

Ma, who was a senior strategist with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations until last year, promotes the theory of India and China both rising peacefully. “I don’t think India is a threat,” he said, stressing that the two nations should reopen military contacts and maintain positive ties. Wonder if the PLA has ordered a copy.