‘Chinese PM Seeks Indian Tech Cooperation’
(AP | April 11, 2005)
BANGALORE, India:
China and India should work together to dominate the world's tech
industry, bringing together Chinese hardware with Indian software,
China's prime minister said Sunday.
On a visit to India's southern technology hub of Bangalore, Premier
Wen Jiabao said the two nations should put aside their historic
rivalries for the venture and welcome a new "Asian century."
"Cooperation is just like two pagodas (temples), one hardware and
one software," Wen said. "Combined, we can take the leadership
position in the world," he said.
"When the particular day comes, it will signify the coming of
the Asian century of the IT industry," he said in an address to
information technology professionals in Bangalore.
India has gained global repute as a hub of software professionals
while China is strong on computer hardware. Both countries' cheap
and plentiful labor has undercut the tech industry in America and
other Western countries through outsourcing.
Wen appealed to Indian software companies to set up operations in
China to tap the Chinese and global markets.
He later met scientists and visited the research facilities at the
headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organization in Bangalore.
Last year, China became the first Asian power to launch a man into
orbit. India has announced ambitions to send an unmanned craft to
the moon.
The two countries have been improving ties despite decades of frosty
relations and rivalry. China is also a longtime ally and the main
supplier of military hardware to Pakistan - India's archrival.
"I hope and believe that my visit will inject fresh vigor and
vitality into relations," Wen said in a statement distributed to
reporters after his arrival.
During talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday,
the two countries are expected to sign nearly 30 agreements to
promote political, economic and cultural ties.
China is keen to develop a free trade area with a combined population
total 2 billion, which would make it the largest free trade area
in the world.
India-China trade reached $13.6 billion in 2004, with India recording
a trade surplus of $1.75 billion, Indian Commerce Ministry statistics
show.
On other issues, Wen and Singh are expected to discuss the more
than 50-year-old border dispute over their 650-mile frontier,
parts of which are not demarcated. A solution is expected to be
reached during Wen's four-day visit.
Wen is also expected to discuss with Indian authorities the Tibetan
spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India,
Chinese officials have said.
Police attempted to prevent Tibetan activists, who oppose Beijing's
rule in the Himalayan territory, from demonstrating against Wen's
visit.
While he was inside the building, a Tibetan youth climbed up a tower
and remained perched above Wen's car, throwing flyers and waving
the Tibetan flag. He shouted "Free Tibet! Wen Jiabao, you cannot
suppress the truth!" Five officers climbed up and arrested him.
On Saturday, police detained two Tibetan leaders to prevent them
from organizing demonstrations and prevented 50 Tibetan students
from leaving their college hostels to protest, a police officer said.
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