New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday there was enough space in the world to accommodate the growth and ambitions of India and China, and assured that his Government was taking steps to preserve the country's security.
"I think security concerns are the primary responsibilities of every civilised country. And you have my assurance that we have been paying adequate attention to protect, preserve the security of our country," Manmohan Singh said at the Leadership Summit organised by the Hindustan Times.
He was replying to a question about how his government was tackling China's so-called 'string of pearls' strategy, which involves the encirclement of India by investing in ports and critical projects in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh.
In a bid to allay the impression of rivalry with China over a host of issues, the Prime Minister said there was enough space for both countries to grow.
"I have said on more than one occasion that both India and China have immense opportunities to work together in cooperation because there is ample space in the world to accommodate the growth ambitions of both India and China," he said.
"We have problems on the border but we have also agreed that pending the resolution, peace and tranquility should prevail on the border and it is the case right now," Manmohan Singh added.
Last Saturday, Manmohan Singh held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Thai resort city of Hua Hin amid sharp rhetoric between the two countries over reported incursions and Beijing's reiteration of its claims over India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The talks helped bring down the temperature, with both leaders agreeing to maintain peace and tranquility along the undemarcated border pending the resolution of their border dispute.
This meeting was followed by talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Bangalore on Tuesday where they decided to continue the process of building trust and understanding.
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