（觀察者網(wǎng) 楊晗軼、王璐菲/譯，原文見(jiàn)最后一頁(yè)）

在中國(guó)主席習(xí)近平出訪印度之前，外界對(duì)此次為期三日的國(guó)事訪問(wèn)有著極高的期待，認(rèn)為兩國(guó)經(jīng)貿(mào)關(guān)系將迎來(lái)嶄新的時(shí)代。剛剛結(jié)束的訪問(wèn)果然達(dá)到了這樣的預(yù)期！新當(dāng)選印度總理的納倫德拉·莫迪曾許諾將拉動(dòng)基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)、擴(kuò)充制造業(yè)；而去年就任國(guó)家主席的習(xí)近平，則致力于深化改革以及對(duì)外輸出專(zhuān)業(yè)知識(shí)技術(shù)，以應(yīng)對(duì)中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)減速的挑戰(zhàn)。此次習(xí)近平訪印選的時(shí)間點(diǎn)可謂完美。

這是中國(guó)國(guó)家主席八年來(lái)首次訪問(wèn)印度，也是印度獨(dú)立以來(lái)的第三次。巧合的是，不僅習(xí)近平是中國(guó)首位出生于1949年建國(guó)后的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人，莫迪也是首位出生于1947年獨(dú)立后的印度總統(tǒng)。兩人都對(duì)各自所在地區(qū)乃至全世界抱有良好的政治意愿。中印兩國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)都面臨著新挑戰(zhàn)，都需要新風(fēng)貌。

雙方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人表示，為了兩國(guó)的和平進(jìn)步，除了確保睦鄰友好關(guān)系之外，還需建立強(qiáng)大的經(jīng)濟(jì)和文化聯(lián)系。這一表態(tài)將“習(xí)莫會(huì)”推向了頂點(diǎn)。中國(guó)五年內(nèi)將向印度投資200億美元，雖低于之前媒體熱炒的1000億美元，可能也低于日本有意投向印度的330億美元，但其手筆顯然比過(guò)去14年在印投入4億美元的美國(guó)要大得多。

中印兩國(guó)為亞洲地區(qū)樹(shù)立了新典范。中國(guó)和印度兩個(gè)千百年來(lái)相依并存的文明古國(guó)，演化為當(dāng)今兩個(gè)龐大的經(jīng)濟(jì)體，中印之間的合作，將對(duì)亞洲地區(qū)的經(jīng)濟(jì)與地緣政治產(chǎn)生舉足輕重的影響。

中印兩國(guó)人口總計(jì)占全世界人口的三分之一。更重要的是，兩大經(jīng)濟(jì)體都在全球經(jīng)濟(jì)中發(fā)揮顯著的作用。中國(guó)出口貿(mào)易額占全球出口總額的16.8％（這一數(shù)字在三十年前約為1％），遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)大于印度所占的1.6％。中印雙邊貿(mào)易總額已攀升至650億美元，然而印度卻面臨著巨大的貿(mào)易赤字?；蛟S中國(guó)在印度的200億美元投資能幫助后者削減這個(gè)赤字。

龍與象：在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)中成長(zhǎng)的伙伴

取中國(guó)之長(zhǎng)，補(bǔ)印度之短

事實(shí)上，經(jīng)過(guò)三十年熾熱的增長(zhǎng)，中國(guó)現(xiàn)已是僅次于美國(guó)的第二大經(jīng)濟(jì)體。中國(guó)在經(jīng)濟(jì)方面已經(jīng)領(lǐng)先印度一大步——畢竟，中國(guó)于1978年便在鄧小平的規(guī)劃下，啟動(dòng)了經(jīng)濟(jì)改革和對(duì)外開(kāi)放；而印度的經(jīng)濟(jì)自由化比中國(guó)晚了大約十年。

是的，在世界市場(chǎng)上，無(wú)論是皮革、紡織品、汽車(chē)和汽車(chē)零部件，中國(guó)與印度是競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者。自1962年中印邊境戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)以來(lái)，兩國(guó)偶有小摩擦。此次莫迪邀請(qǐng)中國(guó)國(guó)家主席訪印，除了主動(dòng)表達(dá)善意以及鞏固與強(qiáng)大鄰國(guó)的關(guān)系之外，還基于加強(qiáng)印度制造業(yè)和基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)的現(xiàn)實(shí)考慮。

中國(guó)在世界市場(chǎng)能有今天的實(shí)力，一個(gè)關(guān)鍵的原因是在上世紀(jì)80年代，基建等資本密集行業(yè)很快就吸引到了外商直接投資，中國(guó)利用其龐大的勞動(dòng)力，打造出世界首屈一指的大規(guī)模制造業(yè)。反觀印度，披著民主外衣，卻是自身官僚體系的犧牲品。多年以來(lái)，印度未能改善基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施惡劣的條件，幾乎停留在英國(guó)殖民者離開(kāi)時(shí)的水平。

9月17日，國(guó)家主席習(xí)近平在古吉拉特邦艾哈邁達(dá)巴德會(huì)見(jiàn)印度總理莫迪。這是會(huì)見(jiàn)前，莫迪在習(xí)近平下榻的賓館前迎接習(xí)近平和夫人彭麗媛

此時(shí)此刻，印度最迫切需要的便是改善基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施。供應(yīng)緊張導(dǎo)致商品和服務(wù)價(jià)格居高不下。印度還需加速發(fā)展制造業(yè)。然而，這些進(jìn)程還缺少靈活的推動(dòng)者：在政府層面和官僚層面，決策進(jìn)度緩慢；在銀行方面，由于很難判斷資產(chǎn)流動(dòng)性，所以放貸時(shí)處處提防。

莫迪曾做出“智能城市”、“子彈頭列車(chē)”、“經(jīng)濟(jì)特區(qū)”以及“工業(yè)園”等一系列承諾。在不久的將來(lái)，中國(guó)將幫助印度建設(shè)兩個(gè)工業(yè)園：位于古吉拉特邦的輸變電設(shè)備工業(yè)園，以及位于馬哈拉施特拉邦的汽車(chē)零部件工業(yè)園。

雙方簽署了一系列諒解備忘錄以及合作協(xié)議，涵蓋改善印度鐵路系統(tǒng)、進(jìn)一步向印度開(kāi)放醫(yī)藥市場(chǎng)、開(kāi)發(fā)外太空、視聽(tīng)產(chǎn)品生產(chǎn)等方面。中國(guó)還將向印度公司提供信貸額度。這將為兩國(guó)以及兩國(guó)商界開(kāi)創(chuàng)一個(gè)雙贏的局面。

對(duì)印度來(lái)說(shuō)，關(guān)鍵點(diǎn)在于，莫迪能否成功地推動(dòng)城市發(fā)展和建設(shè)出口導(dǎo)向型經(jīng)濟(jì)？或者說(shuō)，印度現(xiàn)在還有可能奮起直追甚至超過(guò)中國(guó)嗎？

一些分析家認(rèn)為，印度經(jīng)濟(jì)的基數(shù)較低，大量有形資產(chǎn)的創(chuàng)造以及趨于年輕的人口，都是促使印度經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)回到正軌的利好因素。目前，按大多數(shù)社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)指標(biāo)衡量，無(wú)論是人均國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值（GDP）還是汽車(chē)保有量；是互聯(lián)網(wǎng)用戶數(shù)還是城鎮(zhèn)人口；甚至兒童死亡率等方面，中印兩國(guó)的差距都相當(dāng)明顯。中國(guó)年復(fù)一年以前不見(jiàn)古人的速度增長(zhǎng)，直到幾個(gè)月前才有所減緩。

世界經(jīng)濟(jì)論壇最新發(fā)布的全球競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力排名（衡量國(guó)家有多適宜經(jīng)商的指標(biāo)）顯示，中國(guó)的整體競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力在全球排第28位，印度排第71位。在基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施和宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)環(huán)境這兩個(gè)單項(xiàng)指標(biāo)上，中國(guó)分列第46位和第10位;印度則居第87位和第101位。

中國(guó)在2011年前的5年內(nèi)鋪設(shè)的鐵軌長(zhǎng)度，幾乎是印度自獨(dú)立以來(lái)67年內(nèi)鋪設(shè)的鐵軌總長(zhǎng)的四倍。這是中國(guó)進(jìn)步的一大里程碑。并且，在國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值（GDP）這一關(guān)鍵指標(biāo)上，中國(guó)還能以7%左右的增長(zhǎng)率昂首闊進(jìn)，而印度卻難以突破5%的瓶頸。

印度的不幸并非只在于改革起步較晚，政令阻塞才是導(dǎo)致供應(yīng)緊張的真正原因。過(guò)去幾十年中，無(wú)數(shù)私募股權(quán)、合資企業(yè)和外商直接投資推動(dòng)了中印兩國(guó)的增長(zhǎng)，未來(lái)預(yù)計(jì)將有更多資本進(jìn)入印度。印度當(dāng)前需要做的，在是土地、環(huán)境和法律審批程序上采用“單一窗口模式”快速通過(guò)，才能讓雄心勃勃的藍(lán)圖變成現(xiàn)實(shí)。否則，一旦歷史重演，政策推行陷入僵局，投資者和國(guó)內(nèi)公司都可能對(duì)印度政府假大空的承諾失去信心。

9月18日，國(guó)家主席習(xí)近平在新德里同印度總理莫迪舉行會(huì)談。這是會(huì)談后，習(xí)近平與莫迪共同會(huì)見(jiàn)記者

中國(guó)能從印度取什么經(jīng)？

視線轉(zhuǎn)向中國(guó)。中國(guó)雖仍領(lǐng)先于其西面鄰國(guó)印度，但自身也面臨著經(jīng)濟(jì)增速放緩的威脅。得益于勞動(dòng)力廉價(jià)、成本低、融資便捷及決策迅速等優(yōu)勢(shì)，中國(guó)的增長(zhǎng)一向靠數(shù)字說(shuō)話。可是今年，騰飛的巨龍失去了扶搖直上的勢(shì)頭，正在力爭(zhēng)保住7.5%的年度增長(zhǎng)目標(biāo)。中國(guó)的工業(yè)生產(chǎn)、出口、石油進(jìn)口、房地產(chǎn)價(jià)格及發(fā)電量的增長(zhǎng)率都在縮水，成本則在螺旋上升。這令國(guó)際市場(chǎng)感到不安，因?yàn)橹袊?guó)的貿(mào)易對(duì)世界經(jīng)濟(jì)至關(guān)重要。

舉幾個(gè)例子。研究人員指出，中國(guó)的汽車(chē)出口業(yè)正處于2008年全球金融危機(jī)以來(lái)最差水平。中國(guó)的輪胎生產(chǎn)和橡膠使用量減少，亞洲產(chǎn)膠國(guó)供應(yīng)量提升，導(dǎo)致世界市場(chǎng)上橡膠價(jià)格下跌。同時(shí)，中國(guó)正在調(diào)整某些領(lǐng)域的政策，例如從支撐棉花價(jià)格、堆積庫(kù)存供給棉紡廠轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)橹苯友a(bǔ)貼棉農(nóng)，這導(dǎo)致世界市場(chǎng)上棉花價(jià)格忽上忽下。

中國(guó)應(yīng)對(duì)經(jīng)濟(jì)放緩的第一個(gè)舉措是，央行向五大銀行大量注資增加流動(dòng)性，監(jiān)管部門(mén)也著手整肅違規(guī)交易。據(jù)報(bào)，中國(guó)的融資成本正在上升。

此時(shí)此刻，中國(guó)企業(yè)尋找更青嫩的投資牧場(chǎng)就說(shuō)得通了。中印兩國(guó)的合作甚至可以著眼于整合中國(guó)在計(jì)算機(jī)硬件與電信方面的實(shí)力，以及印度在軟件方面的實(shí)力。畢竟，在1990年代時(shí)，印度國(guó)營(yíng)機(jī)械部門(mén)在基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施和有形資產(chǎn)建設(shè)方面落后于中國(guó)，是印度的私營(yíng)企業(yè)利用計(jì)算機(jī)軟件技術(shù)及英語(yǔ)人才的優(yōu)勢(shì)，以軟件和外包的方式，創(chuàng)造了數(shù)百萬(wàn)就業(yè)崗位并帶來(lái)了經(jīng)濟(jì)收入。

同樣，與東南亞諸國(guó)及中國(guó)相比，印度在科學(xué)研究、小眾電子及半導(dǎo)體行業(yè)、精密儀器儀表設(shè)計(jì)、醫(yī)療和制藥等領(lǐng)域的成就值得夸耀。

此外，印度透明的銀行系統(tǒng)及嚴(yán)格的資本市場(chǎng)監(jiān)管對(duì)境外機(jī)構(gòu)投資者前來(lái)投資是一種鼓勵(lì)，中國(guó)或許可以從中汲取經(jīng)驗(yàn)。印度的公司治理和對(duì)知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)的尊重，也應(yīng)成為中國(guó)同行仿效的榜樣。

新話語(yǔ)，新時(shí)代

隨著地緣政治問(wèn)題逐漸得到解決，中印兩國(guó)互相競(jìng)爭(zhēng)、攜手合作比過(guò)去更加勢(shì)在必行。兩國(guó)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人看來(lái)也認(rèn)識(shí)到了這一點(diǎn)。習(xí)近平說(shuō)：“‘世界工廠’和‘世界管理后臺(tái)’的強(qiáng)強(qiáng)聯(lián)合，將形成最具競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力的生產(chǎn)基地、最具吸引力的消費(fèi)市場(chǎng)”；莫迪也抒發(fā)了類(lèi)似的情懷：“印度與中國(guó)每一次共同合作、共同成長(zhǎng)，都帶動(dòng)了世界發(fā)展和經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮。”

兩國(guó)元首都巧妙地談及要努力保持邊境和平，這對(duì)經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展至關(guān)重要。中印簽署的合作協(xié)議甚至還包括了藝術(shù)、文化、電影、文化交流等方面。不要忘了，兩國(guó)的本土醫(yī)學(xué)各有專(zhuān)長(zhǎng)——中國(guó)有穴位按摩法、針灸術(shù)和太極拳，印度有阿育吠陀長(zhǎng)生術(shù)和瑜伽。

習(xí)近平訪印期間，除為公司提供信貸額度以外，中印兩國(guó)銀行業(yè)還達(dá)成了協(xié)作，這是兩國(guó)金融關(guān)系的又一項(xiàng)重要里程碑。

不過(guò)，毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)，印度在收入和經(jīng)濟(jì)方面的核心指標(biāo)上與中國(guó)的差距還很大。印度人均GDP為1250美元，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)低于中國(guó)6700美元的水平，及其他收入更高的發(fā)展中國(guó)家。汽車(chē)擁有量是衡量制造業(yè)的關(guān)鍵標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，根據(jù)世界各地汽車(chē)協(xié)會(huì)發(fā)布的數(shù)據(jù)，印度的汽車(chē)普及率很低，每千人只擁有2.6輛汽車(chē)，而中國(guó)的千人汽車(chē)擁有量為16.2輛，巴西為19.0輛，韓國(guó)為30.7輛。

有人認(rèn)為，中國(guó)龍正在失去進(jìn)攻性，而蹲伏多年的印度虎則已準(zhǔn)備好騰空飛躍。不過(guò)正如諾貝爾經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)獎(jiǎng)得主、哈佛大學(xué)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)教授阿馬蒂亞·森多年前所指出的：“把中國(guó)和印度看成競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者是錯(cuò)誤的。兩國(guó)應(yīng)思考能從對(duì)方身上學(xué)習(xí)什么。從能源資源、大宗商品到商業(yè)、藝術(shù)、文化，兩國(guó)都有很大的合作空間。中國(guó)與印度如能在這些領(lǐng)域取得進(jìn)展，或許能為解決兩國(guó)地緣政治分歧打下基礎(chǔ)。”

畢竟，中印之間的文化、政治、宗教、經(jīng)濟(jì)交流源遠(yuǎn)流長(zhǎng)，有至少2000多年的歷史。中印在新時(shí)代聯(lián)手合作，可以為亞洲注入一股巨大的新力量。

CHINA-INDIA: PARTNERING TO GROW

Vatsala Kamat（the columnist is a financial/business writer. At present, also is Consulting Writer for Mint, India）

Expectations were running high that, the three-day visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to India, will flag off a new era in economic and business relations between the two countries. And it did! For, Narendra Modi, India’s newly elected Prime Minister, it is the pledged to drive infrastructure growth in the country and expand manufacturing. The timing could not have been better. Xi, who also took office last year, is faced with the challenge of a slowdown in China’s growth rate and, is committed to reform and taking Chinese expertise across borders.

For India, it is the first visit of the Chinese president in eight years and the third since independence. Coincidentally, while Xi is China’s first leader born after the 1949 revolution, Modi is India’s first Prime Minister born after independence in 1947. Both have strong political good will in their regions and world too. Both countries are faced with new economic challenges. Both need changes in the economic ethos.

MEETING OF MINDS:

The meeting culminated in both leaders voicing the need to have strong economic and cultural ties, besides secure border relations for peaceful progress. A commitment of US$ 20 billion may be less than the much-hyped expectation of US$100 billion. While this may be less than Japan’s intent to bring in US$ 33 billion, it is surely a long haul from US$ 400 million that came into India over the last 14 years.

A new paradigm is set to emerge in the Asian region. As two sizeable economies that morphed from ancient civilisations that co-existed for many centuries cooperate, it will have a bearing on economic and geopolitical issues of the region.

India and China house a third of the world’s population. More importantly, both economies play a significant role in global economics. China accounts for 16.8% of the world’s export trade (from about 1% three decades back), far greater than India is at 1.6%. Bilateral trade between China and India has risen to US$65 billion, with a significant trade deficit. The investment of US$20 billion by China into India could help trim this.

INDIA TO HARNESS CHINA’S EDGE

Indeed, China is the second largest economy after the United States of America, with scorching pace of growth for over three decades. It took a big leap ahead of India, given that it started the process of economic reform soon after Deng Xiaoping took control of his country in 1978 and, opened the gates for investment. Indian liberalization began about a decade later.

Yes, in world markets, be it leather, textiles, automobiles and auto-components, China and India compete. But, Modi’s invitation to the Chinese President apart from initiating good will and strengthening relationship with the mighty neighbor with whom there have been border skirmishes since the 1962 war, stems from the need to beef up manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

A key reason for China’s power in world markets is that in the ‘80s, China was quick to attract foreign direct investment into capital-intensive areas like infrastructure and, harness its large workforce into mass manufacturing excellence. India, on the other hand, was a victim of its own bureaucracy in the garb of a democracy. It failed to push the cause of better infrastructure, which continues to languish at levels, barely ahead of where the British left it.

Infrastructure is the need of the hour for India. Supply constraints have driven up prices of goods and services. Manufacturing needs to be stepped up. Institutions that drive these are not nimble-footed. Decision- making at the government level and bureaucratic layers is slow. Liquidity is not easy to access and banks are wary to lend.

Modi has promised “smart citites”, “bullet trains” and “special economic zones” and “industrial parks”. China will now help to build two industrial parks- one in Gujarat for power equipment and, another in Maharashtra for auto parts.

Memorandum of understanding and cooperation pacts were signed for improving railways, allowing greater access for pharmaceutical companies into China, space exploration and even in audio-visual production. Chinese line of credit could also be accessible for Indian firms. This would be a win-win for both nations, private companies.

The key point for India is, Will Modi succeed in fuelling urban growth and export-led economy in India? Or, is it too late in the day to play catch up with, if not outpace China?

A section of analysts say that India’s base is lower and the better creation of physical assets and the younger demographics make a strong case for India’s growth bouncing back on track to growth. At present, the gap between the two countries on most social indicators, be it per capita gross domestic product (GDP), passenger cars, internet users, urban population and even child mortality, is wide as China had until few months back clocked unprecedented growth year after year.

According to the World Economic Forum's latest Global Competitiveness Rankings -- an indicator of how business friendly a country is -- China places 28th in the world for overall competitiveness; India ranks 71st. On infrastructure and macroeconomic environment, China ranks 46th and 10th respectively; India ranks 87th and 101st. 

Another milestone of progress shows that China added nearly four times the railway tracks in kilometres over five years to 2011 that India added in 67 years since independence. And, on the critical gross domestic product (GDP) measure, China is chugging at around 7%, whereas India buckled to below 5%.

India’s woes are not just in that the reform process started late. What led to supply constraints is, policy logjam. Money may come in as seen from the myriad of private equity, joint ventures and foreign direct investment that has fuelled growth in both the countries in the last few decades.

What India requires now, to get all the ambitious plans off the drawing board is quick and single-window clearances on land, environment and legal. Else, history may repeat in that investors and domestic corporates may lose confidence in the country’s tall promises.

WHAT CAN CHINA LOOK FOR IN INDIA?

Turn in to China. In spite of being ahead of its western neighbor, growth rate in China is threatening to slowdown. Riding on cheap labour, low cost and easy finance and quick policy decision, the name of the game in China has been numbers. But, this year, the flying dragon has lost tailwind and is struggling to reach the targeted 7.5% annual growth rate. Growth rates in industrial production, exports, oil imports, real estate prices and electricity output are showing contraction, as costs are spiraling too. This has already sent jitters through world markets, given that China’s trade is critical to world economics.

To cite a few examples, Chinese auto exports are at its worst since the 2008 global crisis, according to research analysts.  A fall in tyre production in China and rubber usage along with higher supply in the Asian belt has brought down prices of rubber in world markets too. Meanwhile, China’s policy is changing towards some sectors. The change in China’s cotton policy to support cotton growers directly instead of supporting cotton prices and piling up inventory to supply to mills, has set cotton prices yo-yoing in world market.

In its first reaction to slowdown, China’s central bank is boosting liquidity by injecting large funds into five big banks. Regulators are also cracking down on banking transactions. Further, costs are reportedly rising in China.

In such times, it makes sense for Chinese companies to look for greener investing pastures. Indo-China cooperation could aim at even combining China’s strength in computer hard ware and telecommunications, with India’s software. After all, in the 90s when Indian state-run machinery lagged behind China, in building infrastructure and physical assets, private enterprises used computer software skills and the expertise of educated English-speaking population to bring millions of jobs and dollars in, by way of software and outsourcing opportunities.

Likewise, scientific research, niche electronics and semi-conductor industries, precision instrumentation and design, health care and pharmaceuticals are areas where India has a feather in its cap over its southeast Asian brethren, including China.

India’s transparent banking system, tough capital market regulation that encourages foreign institutional investors to invest, could be learning points for China. India’s corporate governance and respect for intellectual property rights can be examples for Chinese counterparts to emulate.

XI-MODI RHETORIC

It is more imperative now than ever before that as even as the geopolitical issues gradually get ironed out, the two nations join hands to co-operate even as they compete. The leaders seem to have taken cognizance too. Xi said, "The combination of 'the world's factory' and 'the world's back office' will produce the most competitive production base and the most attractive consumer market." Modi too, carrying a similar sentiment said "whenever India and China have worked and grown together, this has also led to the development and economic prosperity of the world."

Both nation heads subtly spoke of trying to maintain peace at the border, critical to economic progress. Cooperation pacts seem to have been signed even in areas like art and culture, cinema and exchanges between cultural institutions. Not to forget, that both countries have their respective specialization in native therapy – China in acupressure, acupuncture and taichi and India in Ayurveda and yoga.

The tie-up between banks of the two nations during Xi’s visit is an important milestone in financial relationship besides offering line of credit to grow business between the two nations.

However, there’s no doubt that on core income and economic parameters, India has a long way to go given that it’s GDP per capita of US$1,250 is way below that of China at US$6,700 and rest of the developing world, which is even higher at US$ 10,000. On one of the key manufacturing benchmarks, available data from the automobile associations across the globe suggests that India’s auto penetration is low with sales at 2.6 vehicles per 1,000 compared to China’s 16.2, Brazil’s 19.0 and South Korea’s 30.7.

That said, the Dragon (China) is losing aggression, while the Tiger is set to leap after crouching for a couple of years. But as Amartya Sen, Lamont Professor of Economics at Harvard University, USA and Nobel Economic Prize Winner pointed out years ago, “it was wrong to view China and India as competitors. They should think of what they can learn from each other. From energy resources and commodities to business, art and culture, there’s scope for the two nations to work together. Progress in these areas may be stepping stones to align geopolitical differences too.

After all, over at least twenty centuries there were cultural, political, religious and economic interactions between the two nations. The Chindia combine could work to create a new Asian juggernaut.

Ends…