Seoul: Observing that large and dynamic countries like China cannot be contained, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India aims to have cooperative ties with both Washington and Beijing.
"Our aim is to have cooperative ties with both China and USA. It is not zero-sum game. I do not think that large and dynamic countries like China can be contained," Singh told South Korean daily 'JoongAng Ilbo' ahead of his visit.
He was replying to a question on whether the US was keeping China in check and had he ever faced situations where he had to choose between China and the US.
"China is our largest neighbour with which we share a long border. It is also our biggest trading partner in goods. With USA, our relations have been transformed in 2005. Three million people of Indian origin live and work in the US," Singh said.
Singh is in Seoul on a bilateral visit following which he will take part in the Nuclear Security Summit that will be attended by 58 leaders including US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Singh said that India's relations with the US were transformed in 2005. The two countries had laid the framework forthe India-US civil nuclear agreement in July 2005.
On his meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Singh said he would talk about "giving depth and greater meaning" to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, strengthen people-to-people contacts, boost cooperation in science and technology, and coordinate thinking in matters relating to security and global events.
"Since this is an occasion which coincides with Nuclear Security Summit, we can work together to promote nuclear security and safety in this world that we live in," he said.
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