government immediately upped the ante by offering to meet 30% of the total demand for investment in India's investment sector until 2017. It is difficult to avoid reading between the lines and seeing this as an endorsement of China's faith in Modi to walk the talk should he take the helm after the general elections.

The inherent strength of the Modi-China relationship is underscored by Chinese media's response to Modi. The prime ministerial candidate made an election speech in Arunachal Pradesh in February asking China to back-off from its claim over the province, which it claims as South Tibet, yet Chinese official media quickly downplayed Modi's words as an necessary electioneering tactic.

Such bonhomie can be a crucial ingredient in the concrete that cements India-China ties over the next fivepower:

Russia-China-India energy corridor: An oil and gas pipeline network between the three countries

China-India railway: A railway line between China and India, with a gauge interchange hub on the border (since China and India have different railway gauges).

China-India-West Coast transit: Transit of shipping containers over railway from China to India's western ports (JNPT and Kochi), and onwards to middle east and Europe, reducing transit over the Malay peninsula.

Electricity trade between China and India (purchase of surplus electricity from Chinese grid)