NEW DELHI: Amid the urgency in border talks to resolve the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong said Thursday that, at present, bilateral relations are at a “crucial stage of improvement and development”. The remarks follow back-to-back meetings between Indian and Chinese foreign ministers, S Jaishankar and Wang Yi respectively, in July in which they agreed to intensify engagement to achieve disengagement in the remaining areas, and another engagement that Wang had with NSA Ajit Doval in Russia this month on the margins of the Brics NSAs meeting.
Jaishankar had said last week that 75 percent of disengagement problems have been solved, adding that India can look at “other possibilities” if the process is completed in remaining areas and border peace and tranquillity restored.
The renewed efforts to resolve the standoff that started in May 2020 have come ahead of a possible meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Brics summit in Kazan next month. This is the first time the leaders will come face to face since their “informal” meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg last year. Both sides are also expected to soon hold another meeting between the senior commanders to address the remaining issues.
Xu said the ministers in their recent meetings had reached an important consensus on improvement in ties, adding that a sound and stable relationship between China and India not only concerns the development of the two countries, but also the cause of peace and development of Asia and mankind at large.
“At present, China-India relations are at a crucial stage of improvement and development. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar twice in the past two months and met with Indian National Security Advisor Mr Ajit Doval a few days ago. They had in-depth communication and reached important consensus on the improvement of bilateral relations. We are fully confident about the future of our bilateral relations,” said Xu.
Xu also praised PM Narendra Modi saying under him “India’s economy maintains rapid development and people’s living standards improve continuously”. The ambassador expressed hope that India will provide a “sound’’ business environment for Chinese companies, as he welcomed more Indian investments into China.
As India presses China for completing the disengagement process, Beijing had said after the last round of diplomatic talks that both sides have narrowed their differences on the border issue. After Jaishankar’s remark that 75 percent of the disengagement problems have been resolved, Beijing had said that disengagement had been achieved at 4 points.
Jaishankar had said last week that 75 percent of disengagement problems have been solved, adding that India can look at “other possibilities” if the process is completed in remaining areas and border peace and tranquillity restored.
The renewed efforts to resolve the standoff that started in May 2020 have come ahead of a possible meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Brics summit in Kazan next month. This is the first time the leaders will come face to face since their “informal” meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg last year. Both sides are also expected to soon hold another meeting between the senior commanders to address the remaining issues.
Xu said the ministers in their recent meetings had reached an important consensus on improvement in ties, adding that a sound and stable relationship between China and India not only concerns the development of the two countries, but also the cause of peace and development of Asia and mankind at large.
“At present, China-India relations are at a crucial stage of improvement and development. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar twice in the past two months and met with Indian National Security Advisor Mr Ajit Doval a few days ago. They had in-depth communication and reached important consensus on the improvement of bilateral relations. We are fully confident about the future of our bilateral relations,” said Xu.
Xu also praised PM Narendra Modi saying under him “India’s economy maintains rapid development and people’s living standards improve continuously”. The ambassador expressed hope that India will provide a “sound’’ business environment for Chinese companies, as he welcomed more Indian investments into China.
As India presses China for completing the disengagement process, Beijing had said after the last round of diplomatic talks that both sides have narrowed their differences on the border issue. After Jaishankar’s remark that 75 percent of the disengagement problems have been resolved, Beijing had said that disengagement had been achieved at 4 points.
Source Agencies
