Indian media: Hopes and fears over ties with China

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There are hopes and fears in Indian newspapers ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to China in May.

Territorial differences and a crushing defeat by China more than five decades ago still loom large over bilateral relations despite booming trade, argues an editorial in The Indian Express.

While visiting China in May, Mr Modi will be "hoping to charm the dragon whose stare Indians have feared ever since the catastrophic war of 1962", the paper says.

According to the paper, the stakes are particularly high now because Beijing feels threatened by India's recently strengthening security ties with the US.

"Both countries have to find ways to address these real insecurities, and build a functional relationship," The Indian Express says.

In similar vein, an editorial in The Times of India calls on the two countries to cast aside historical baggage and "script a new chapter in bilateral ties".

It urges Delhi to show flexibility in its territorial dispute with Beijing, recalling how much is at stake.

"Home to almost a third of humanity, cooperation between India and China can galvanise the region and propel the common dream of an Asian century," it says.

On an optimistic note, the paper argues that both sides seem willing to mend ties and sign "substantial agreements" during Mr Modi's visit to China.

During President Xi Jinping's visit to Delhi in September last year, India and China signed 12 agreements, one of which will see China investing $20bn (£12.2bn) in India's infrastructure over five years.

Both Mr Xi and Mr Modi had said that "peace on the border" was important for progress in bilateral relations.

Papers now hope that Mr Modi's Beijing visit will give momentum to the peace process.

Fighting terrorism

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's recent visit to Beijing gives further reason for hope that Indian-Chinese relations are headed for a breakthrough, says The Hindustan Times.

"China warming up to new 'friend' India," says the paper's headline.

"One sign of the importance that Beijing attaches to relations with India is the fact that Mr Xi broke diplomatic protocol by meeting the Indian foreign minister in Beijing," it says.

Ms Swaraj on Sunday also met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov as part of the RIC (Russia, India China) group's summit.

The three countries agreed to share expertise and knowledge to flight global terrorism at the meeting.

Ms Swaraj said that both Russia and China welcome India's entry into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

'Bitter' poll campaign in Delhi

Meanwhile, papers say political campaigning in Delhi took "a bitter turn on Monday when the two lead players launched no-holds barred attacks on each other" ahead of voting for assembly polls on 7 February.

The Indian Express quotes the BJP as accusing the rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of accepting "illegal" donations.

"It's a matter of serious concern," The Indian Express quotes the BJP's Power Minister Piyush Goyal as saying. The AAP has rejected the charges.

The Times of India agrees that as campaigning for Delhi enters its final stages, "the contest has become bitter and personalised".

In an interview with the paper, the Aam Aadmi Party leader, Arvind Kejriwal, accuses the BJP of targeting his cast in its political advertising by describing them as "troublemakers".

"Fight with me, why target my community?" he asks.

And finally, India's media have also publicised what they describe as another case of sexual harassment of a woman.

The Indian Express website carries a video in which a woman on board a plane is scolding a man after he had allegedly "inappropriately touched" her during the flight. In another video, the website says, the man is apologetic and says "it was a mistake".

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