From K J M Varma Beijing, Feb 10 (PTI) India and China should manage the competition between themselves within an agreed strategic framework that allows them to pursue their core interests, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said. "We need to continue to manage the elements of competition within an agreed strategic framework which permits both of us to pursue our core interests," Krishna was quoted as saying by China's state-run news portal, china.org.cn in an interview during his just concluded visit. Krishna concluded his three-day visit yesterday during which he inaugurated the new Indian Embassy building and held talks with four senior Chinese leaders, including Zhou Yongkong, who is the ninth ranked member of the nine-member politburo standing committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). On the perception that India-China are strategic rivals, he said those who held this view ignore how the two countries have handled their differences lately and their deepening cooperation. The best way to deepen mutual understanding and prevent distrust is to increase people-to-people exchanges and communication. To this end, Krishna, along with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, declared 2012 as "The Year of India-China Friendship and Cooperation". To questions relating to the controversial South China Sea issue, Krishna said: "India is not a party to this dispute." "India is of the view that sovereignty issues must be resolved peacefully by the countries which are parties to the dispute in accordance with international law and practice," he said.
