THE PIONEER, DELHI by Anil K. Joseph -NOVEMBER 27, 1996

With the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the stage is set to herald a new era in Sino-Indian bilateral relations characterised by peaceful, stable and co-operative relationship in the 21st century.

The first ever visit to India by the Chinese President is "long overdue", diplomatic sources here said, adding that "time has come to end our estrangement and make a new beginning which will benefit the people of both the nations."

While the visit is not expected to produce any "dramatic breakthroughs" in bilateral relations, the amount of goodwill and personal rapport that would be established by the high level meetings Jiang will have with top Indian leaders will be extremely beneficial in building the right atmosphere of friendship and making a new beginning, they told PTI here.

While there has been an expansion in bilateral exchanges in recent years, there is a significant potential for expanding and diversifying Sino-Indian relations.

"Inspite of a complicated border issue, both countries have acknowledged that there is much we can do and learn from each other and we intend to do so in the coming months and years", the sources said.

Commenting on the scheduled tour, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, "we believe that President Jiang Zemin's visit will be important historical significance to relations between China and India and it will have a 'positive effect' on safeguarding peace and stability in Asia and the world as a whole."

He said the visit would help deepen mutual understanding, build mutual trust, develop friendship and cooperations. The visit and talk will also serve to "reinforce the existing friendly ties between China and India and define their long term stable good neighbourly relations facing the 21st century," the spokesperson said.

Diplomatic sources acknowleged the fact that although India and China were the architect of the famous five principles of peaceful co- existence, Sino-Indian relations have not always conformed to these principles.