Dhaka, June 29 -- As the global balance of power shifts towards Asia, the relationship between India and China has become far more than a bilateral affair.

Together, the world's two most populous countries account for more than 40 percent of global economic growth, placing them in a unique position to influence the future of international governance, Xu Wei, consul-general of the People's Republic of China in Kolkata, wrote in The Indian Express.

Supporters of closer engagement argue that cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing could help counter unilateralism and build a more balanced global order by drawing on the region's longstanding traditions of coexistence.

Xu argues that sustainable development and shared security should form...