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India and China can resolve differences through dialogue: President

President K R Narayanan said today that both China and India had the foresight and wisdom to overcome all hurdles to mutual understanding and continue uninterrupted the efforts to resolve the differences through dialogue.

''With goodwill, mutual understanding and appreciation of each other's interests and concerns there are no problems between us that cannot be resolved,'' the President said, while accepting the credentials of the new Chinese ambassador to India, Zhou Gang, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Zhou has been waiting to present his credentials for well over a month, and Monday's ceremony marked the first Sino-Indian official contact since the crisis erupted over Defence Minister George Fernandes's remarks last month.

Narayanan, himself a former ambassador to China, stressed that both New Delhi and Beijing must continue to strengthen their economic and commercial ties to realise the full potential and promote exchanges at the peoples's level to enable the people in both countries to acquire an appreciation of the bonds that united them.

In this regard, he referred to Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to India in 1996, the first-ever by a Chinese head of state, during which the two sides had agreed to develop a relationship of constructive co-operation oriented towards the 21st century and focus on economic and technological co-operation.

The President felt the bonds would contribute to peace and security in the region and the world.

Earlier, presenting his credentials, Zhou said the jointly initiated five principles of peaceful coexistence not only conformed to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also contributed to peace and stability of Asia and the world at large. He also conveyed to Narayanan Jiang's greetings.

Narayanan, who is keen on multiple credential ceremonies, also accepted the credentials of Belarus ambassador Uladzimir A Sakalouski. Being committed to the ideals of peace and non-violence, Belarus and India had identical views on most international issues. ''We have a common interest in promoting even closer bilateral ties,'' the President said.

UNI

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