China is no threat to India: Mukherjee

Beijing: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India did not consider China a 'threat' but described cross-border terrorism as the biggest menace to world peace and stability on Tuesday.

"We do not believe in that type of phraseology," Mukherjee said when asked to comment whether India viewed China as a "threat" during an interview with the state-run CCTV4 on the third day of his maiden official visit to China.

"In fact, my talks with the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister, I made it quite clear to them that we trust each other. And we do not pose threat to each other. We do not consider China as a threat to us nor should consider India as a threat to China. We are not a threat to anybody," Mukherjee, currently on a six-day official visit to China, asserted.

Mukherjee, however, used the opportunity to raise cross-border terrorism issue during the TV interview.

One major threat that is emerging, cutting across territorial boundary of the nation state, is cross border terrorism, he said.

And adding to that was arms smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal trafficking of human beings, which were also major problems, he added.

"Terrorism has no territorial loyalty nor ideological loyalty. This is the biggest menace to world peace and tranquility. And more and more nations are aware of it and that is why collective efforts are being made to fight against the great menace," Mukherjee said.

"Therefore, the type of traditional thinking in terms of balance of power in a particular region or in a regional sense to a considerable extent has lost its relevance," he added.

Asked to comment on differences between India and China, he acknowledged that exits "divergent views" but efforts are on to address them.

"We have divergence of views in respect of certain matters. We are trying to resolve that. And all these exercises are to resolve those divergent views and outstanding issues through peaceful dialogue, debate and discussion," he said.

Asked on the 1962 India-China conflict, Mukherjee said that the two sides should not dwell to the past but look towards the future.

"Let us not look back. Let us look forward. Let us not resonate the past," he added.

"Forty-four years have passed since 1962 and we have forward looking approach. Both countries are engaged in improving their relationships all round," Mukherjee said.

"If India and China work together, it will greatly benefit the people of both countries and it will also act as an important factor in the stability and peace not only for Asia but also for the whole world," he added.