Let's join hands: PM to China

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said danger to development comes from extremism of all types and favoured a collective fight against terrorism even as he unveiled his vision of the future of Sino-Indian ties that would focus on mutual prosperity rather than animosity.

In a veiled reference to events in Pakistan and perhaps forces at home, Singh said the rise of non-state actors, often based on intolerance, and narrow conceptions of identity, was a threat to all civilised nations.

"Perhaps the greatest danger to our development comes from extremism of all types, whether in the garb of religion or on the pretext of righting historical wrongs," Singh said in his speech to Chinese think-tank "Chinese Academy of Social Sciences" in Beijing.

"Recent developments in our neighbourhood have brought home to us again the imperative need to collectively fight terrorism and extremism in all forms. As large and diverse societies, we are all placed to demonstrate the benefits of moderation and peaceful co-existence," he said on the last day of his three-day visit.

In his speech, Singh unveiled his vision of the future of Sino-Indian relations, saying India and China must cooperate in creating a world of positive externalities and mutual prosperity, rather than one based on balance of power calculations and animosity.

"This involves India and China working together closely to ensure a global order in which our simultaneous development will have a positive influence not not only on our own economies but also on the rest of the world," he said a day after India and China agreed to cooperate in various sectors, including civil nuclear energy. Singh said the two countries were at an exciting point in history when the centre of gravity of the world economy was moving towards Asia.

Just as the world economy was largely about western nations in the 20th century, it could be largely about Asia in the 21st century. By the mid-21st century, Asia may well account for more than 50 per cent of trade, income, savings, investment and financial transactions of the world, he said.

Highlighting some key focus areas for the future of Sino-Indian relations, the Prime Minister said first the "knowledge gap" between India and China must be bridged and there was need to make much more sustained effort to ensure proper awareness of each other.