Kunming, Yunnan province: Bilateral relations between India and China have often been a bumpy ride. But these days, the Chinese are pinning their hopes on the reopening of a road to improve their relations with India.
The Stilwell Road was built during World War II and the Indo-China relations can get a shot in the arm with the reopening of the road.
During World War II, 63,000 workers built the 1,736 km long road - the Ledo Road, renamed the Stilwell Road from Assam in north-east India to Yunnan province in South Western China via Burma. It was used by the British, Chinese and Indian armies to transport supplies, troops and other essentials from India to Burma and prevent the march of the Japanese army. After the war, the road fell into disuse.
The Stillwell Road culminates in Kunming in Southwestern China. And leaders here have genuinely started believing that reopening the Stilwell Road could result in unimaginable gains - both to India and China - not just in terms of trade but the relationship between the two countries....
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09:04 AM, Jun 28, 2011
