China Welcomes PM Modi’s Comments, Expresses Readiness to Rebuild Ties

Beijing: China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on India-China cooperation, expressing its willingness to work with New Delhi to rebuild bilateral relations. Modi, in a podcast aired on Sunday, emphasized that while differences between neighboring countries like India and China are natural, they should not escalate into disputes. He underlined the importance of bilateral cooperation for global stability and prosperity.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded positively to Modi’s statements at a media briefing in Beijing on Monday. She stated that China is prepared to work with India to strengthen relations and advance bilateral ties on a stable trajectory.

China’s Response to Modi’s Remarks

Mao described Modi’s comments as “positive” and reiterated China’s commitment to implementing key agreements between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. She highlighted that the two countries should seize the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations to foster exchanges and cooperation.

“China stands ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between [Modi and Xi], promote exchange and cooperation in various fields, and advance China-India relations on the track of sound and stable development,” Mao said.

She also referenced the successful meeting between Modi and Xi in Kazan, Russia, last October, which she said provided “strategic guidance” for improving relations. Mao noted that both sides have worked towards fulfilling their leaders’ agreements by strengthening exchanges and practical cooperation, yielding “a series of positive outcomes.”

Progress on the Border Dispute

The India-China military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh since 2020 had significantly strained bilateral ties. However, in October 2023, both nations reached an understanding to de-escalate the border tensions, which was followed by the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan. The two leaders agreed to revive mechanisms aimed at resolving the border dispute and normalizing relations.

Mao echoed Modi’s statement that India and China share a long history of peaceful coexistence. “The mainstream of China-India interactions has been friendly exchanges and mutual learning,” she said. She added that as the world’s two largest developing nations, India and China should support each other and contribute to global stability and prosperity.

The Path Forward

Reiterating Modi’s views, Mao emphasized that cooperation between India and China benefits not only their combined 2.8 billion people but also aligns with the aspirations of the Global South and promotes world peace. She referred to the relationship between the two nations as a “cooperative pas de deux [dance for two] of the dragon and the elephant,” a phrase previously used by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In his podcast, Modi stressed that India has always prioritized dialogue over discord with China. “Instead of discord, we emphasize dialogue, because only through dialogue can we have a stable cooperative relationship that is in the best interests of both nations,” he said.

Following the Modi-Xi meeting last year, India and China have seen improved relations at the border and are now working towards restoring pre-2020 conditions. “Our cooperation isn’t just beneficial, it’s necessary for global stability and prosperity…Competition is not a bad thing, but there should not be conflict,” Modi added.

Sources By Agencies

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