The seven-day state visit to China by India's President, Kocheril Raman Narayanan, has been arranged to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit is, however, of far greater significance than such a formal occasion might suggest.
China and India are the two most populous countries on earth. Earlier this month India marked the birth of its one-billionth citizen; its population is expected to outnumber China's by 2036.
Both countries are nuclear powers with the capability, not only of manufacturing the atomic bomb, but also of delivering it by sophisticated missile systems to each other's territories.
Relations between these two great nations have often been fraught. The countries fought an inconclusive three-week war in frontier regions across the Himalayas in 1962. China controls an area roughly half the size of Ireland in the flashpoint region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, where tension between India and Pakistan is at its highest. It also claims parts of Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh in north-east India. Little progress has been made since the 1962 conflict in regularising the frontier of almost 3,000 miles, which divides the two countries. Twelve rounds of discussions between the countries have failed to yield results of any significance.
Territorial disputes and rivalry for influence in the region have been the cause of tension between Beijing and Delhi. In an effort to counter India's regional strength, China has, for much of the last half-century, maintained strong links with Pakistan. Recent nuclear rivalry between Pakistan and India, however, has threatened stability on China's south-western borders and Beijing has begun to soften its attitude to relations with India while still leaning towards Pakistan.
The visit of President Narayanan marks a further cementing of relations between the two most important countries in Asia. He will have talks with President Jiang Zemin, Prime Minister Ziu Rongji and the chairman of the National People's Congress, Li Peng, in the course of his week-long visit which concludes just before the 11th anniversary of Tiananmen Square.
Mr Narayanan has special qualifications in the search for further co-operation between the countries whose annual trade runs at close to $2 billion annually. His position as president may largely be ceremonial but his experience as India's ambassador to China in the 1980s has given him a special insight into Chinese affairs and personal relationships with many of those in power in Beijing.
Beijing and Delhi have been receiving overtures from Moscow with a view to forming a partnership of nations with similar world views. China has also agreed with India to institute a bilateral dialogue on security following last year's visit by India's foreign minister, Jaswant Singh. Mr Narayanan's visit marks a perceptible shift for the better in the relationship between the Asian super-powers.