One reason why India can step up its growth rate even further - so as to equal or even surpass the Chinesefigure - is that the economy still has a lot of slack.
While the Chinesefigure may not be reflective of the actual number of mobile users in country as some of these connections are currently inactive, it is still a compelling statistic that shows the huge growth opportunity that China presents for many smartphone manufacturers.
This was followed in September with a trip to Kabul by its top security official, the first by a leading Chinese government figure in 46 years, and the announcement that China would train 300 Afghan police officers.