Beijing: Unfazed by concerns over 'invasion' of Chinese goods in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday asked the Indian Inc to "think big" and learn to compete while noting that there was enough space for the two countries to grow and a "historic necessity" to work together.
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"We must engage China and learn to both compete and cooperate," he told a high-level Indian business delegation in the run-up to the India-China business summit in Beijing on Monday.
The industry leaders including CII chief Sunil Mittal and FICCI President F Khorakiwala sought the Prime Minister's intervention with Beijing for early removal of trade and non-trade barriers.
"Indian business should think big. Indian business is ready to face the brave new world of globalisation. China is an important part of that brave new world of globalisation," Singh said at the 45-minute meeting.
The Prime Minister noted that a large part of the thinking in both the countries was shaped by western views of China and felt there was need for a better understanding of the processes of change in this country.
"At a time when there are concerns about a global economic slowdown, China and India can sustain global growth through their own development," he said.
Singh said "It is a historic necessity for the two great neighbours to work together. There will be areas of competition, and there will be areas for cooperation. There is enough space in the world for both countries to continue to grow.
"The rise of China and India should be viewed as an 'international public good' by the global community since it offered new opportunities to sustain global growth, he said.
