NEW DELHI: Home minister P
Chidambaram on Friday said there was no reason to envy China and New Delhi should rather try to "emulate" Beijing in carrying out development works. "We should not fear competition from China. There is no reason to envy China. If at all, we should try to emulate China," he said. Addressing the 7th
Northeast Business Summit, the home minister pointed out that trade between India and China was booming and China had become India's largest single trading partner. Stating that China, a competitor, challenged India to compete on equal terms, Chidambaram said if China could build world class roads, India should be able to build world class roads and if they could build world class railway lines, right up to Tibet, India should be able to do so across the northeastern states. "And that is how it will be, it should be," he said. The home minister's statement came amid a controversy over the detention and subsequent release of Indian businessmen in Yiwu, China, following a business dispute. Chidambaram said India had cordial relations with the three neighbouring countries - Bangladesh, Myanmar and China - which had borders in the northeast. "Today, we have Bangladesh, with whom we have the best of relations and Myanmar with whom we hope to have very good relations in the short term," he said. Urging Indian businessmen to look at the potential of the northeast, the home minister said, "Seize the opportunities of the northeast, grow businesses and help these states to grow along with the rest of India."
