It was a measured speech marked by correctness and a touch of warmth. Every word was in its right place, every idea carefully enunciated. No Indian in the audience was unhappy, but nobody appeared enthused either. Speaking on the theme "Deepening Understanding, Fostering Friendship and Strengthening Cooperation", Mr Li said many things to warm the cockles of his 300-odd high-brow audience at New Delhi's India International Centre, but he stopped short of making history by remaining silent on the border dispute.

Mr Li began by paying ritual obeisance to the historic, ancient and civilisational relationship between the two Asian neighbours. He refered to all the familiar names, the Buddhist monks Kumarajiva and Badhidharma, the Chinese travellers Fahien and Huen Tsang, Dr Kotnis the Mumbai doctor who provided medical attention to communist revolutionaries. He also refered to Jawaharlal Nehru and Zhou Enlai's joint enunciation of Pancha Shila, the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-agression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

Moving from the past to the present he won over his audience by elaborating on the important role India and China can jointly play as major Asian and global powers in the emerging "multi-polar" world. He echoed Indian concerns about globalisation and emphasised the need for constructive cooperation aimed at pushing ahead with economic reforms and growth.

Elaborating on China's policy towards India he said "we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with India in international affairs.... China wishes to see a prosperous, developed and strong India and welcomes a more active role of India in regional and international affairs." Noting India's economic achievements in the past decade and the emergence of the Indian information technology sector, Mr Li called for greater cooperation between the two countries in global economic forums, but remained silent on the issue of India's membership of the UN Security Council.

China has "three major tasks" ahead of it, claimed Mr Li, economic modernisation, national re-unification and the safeguarding of world peace and promotion of common development. Mr Li called for respect for national sovereigntyand the recognition that democratic systems of governance can come in different shapes and forms in different societies. It was a "feel-good" speech of high principles and mutual friendship. Mr Li emphasised China's recognition of India as an important "global" and "Asian" power. Claiming that his visit to India "will be a success", Mr Li stated that China and India along with other Asian countries "share the obligation for the future of Asia."

While there was much appreciation for Mr Li's speech in the India International Centre's high profile gathering of diplomats, scholars, security analysts and journalists, the packed IIC auditorium did not warm up to give him a loud applause, not to mention a standing ovation. As a seasoned China-watcher Professor G P Deshpande of the Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies put it, "he said all the right things, but remained significantly silent on the border issue. It is an important speech, not a historic one.

Another China specialist, Professor Manoranjan Mohanty of the Delhi University was more upbeat, viewing the speech as a positive statement and a recognition of India's increasing importance in world affairs. However, there was universal disappointment that Mr Li did not stray from the beaten track on the India-China border dispute. As one analyst from New Delhi's Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis put it, "Clearly China wants to settle the border issue at its own pace. It will not let us hurry them up."