Dr Singh and Hu should recognise the immense potential of Sino-Indian partnership cannot be realised on the basis of traditional diplomatic formalism and political hypocrisy. The Sino-Indian relationship has become a lot bigger and much more consequential for the world, despite the truculence of the two governments. It is too important to be conducted in the old format marked by ignorance, secrecy, and dissimulation.

The two countries should recognise the immense potential of Sino-Indian partnership cannot be realised on the basis of traditional diplomatic formalism and political hypocrisy. Getting beyond their prepared talking points, the Dr Singh and Hu must confront the real problems that trouble the relationship — India’s worries on the boundary dispute, China’s relationship with Pakistan and its inability to pursue an even-handed policy on Kashmir, and Beijing’s concerns on New Delhi’s brazen economic discrimination, India’s Tibet policy, and the future of Indo-US partnership.

Instead of clutching at unreadable pieces of paper that no one takes seriously, Dr Singh and Hu must begin to address each other’s concerns and find ways to solve bilateral political problems. As two leaders who carry no baggage from the past and technocrats who understand the extraordinary relative gains that could accrue from cooperation, they are well placed to break the mould on Sino-Indian relations.