Sound Bites

"As two of the large and dynamic economies in Asia, the nature of the economic and political relationships between China and India will set the tone for closer integration on the continent. There is immense potential for expanding the flows of goods and money across the two countries, but this will require careful management of the political relationship. In the long run, both countries could benefit significantly from a constructive economic partnership."

Eswar Prasad, professor at Cornell University and former chief in China for IMF

"Even as they recognize that critical differences persist between the two countries on a number of issues, including on the political and economic front, key Indian policymakers believe it is important to continue to engage China. They will see the visit as an opportunity to try to get the relationship back on track. Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid's recent visit to Beijing was intended to do the same."

Tanvi Madan, foreign policy program fellow at the Brookings Institution, and director of the new India Project

"Being among the first overseas travel destinations of the new Chinese premier is definitely an honor for both Germany and Switzerland. In fact there is a fine tradition between China and Switzerland of being early with gestures of openness and friendship as the two were among the very first in establishing diplomatic relations."

Hans Boller, first Swiss journalist sent to China after 1978

"Premier Li Keqiang should go beyond China's bilateral relations with Switzerland and Germany during this visit. So he needs to work with Europeans to work out a coordinated strategy over the coming months and years to change perceptions and rebut inaccurate portrayals of China."

Glyn Ford, former member of European Parliament

(China Daily 05/17/2013 page11)