Krishna speaks up on Indo-China issues

India and China should address each other's 'concerns and sensitivities' on issues impinging security and well being, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said on Monday. He also said that a hotline between the two prime ministers will also become operational soon.

"As rising powers, India and China are projected to have a competitive relationship in the final analysis. It is up to us to disapprove such a scenario by presenting examples of a concrete partnership," Krishna said.

"While we accept that there are outstanding issues between the two large countries, we have to address each other's concerns and sensitivities on issues impinging each other's security and well being," he said.

He said, "China should provide a level-playing field to Indian companies, especially in pharma and IT sectors, where we face barriers restricting market access."

The minister said India would offer a warm welcome to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when he visits India in December. The seminar was organised jointly by the Congress and the Communist Party of China on relations between the two countries.