September 30, 2022
NEW DELHI – India will continue to maintain a sound relationship with China, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Washington on Sept 28.
“What I have said, to my mind represents accurate policy assessment of where the state of our relations is. We continue to strive for a relationship with China, but one that is built on mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar made the remarks during a media briefing as he concluded his four-day visit to Washington DC in the United States. Earlier he was in New York earlier to attend the recently concluded annual United Nation General Assembly.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s comment came after Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said on Sept 27 that the situation on the India-China border is “overall stable”
Jaishankar’s comment came after Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said on Sept 27 that the situation on the India-China border is “overall stable.”
The phase of emergency response since the Galwan Valley incident has basically come to an end, and the border situation is now switching to normalized management and control, Sun made the remarks at a virtual event held to mark the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Reiterating the Chinese side’s position, Weidong said issues which cannot be immediately resolved should be put in a “proper place”, without allowing them to disturb the overall development of bilateral ties.
When asked about Chinese envoy’s comments regarding the “overall” stability on the India-China border, Jaishankar said, “I think if the spokesperson of a foreign ministry were to say something, I would urge you to see a comment from the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of the corresponding country.”
“China-India relations have made new progress and shown positive momentum” this year, Sun said, urging both sides to maintain the momentum for improving bilateral relations and promote China-India relations back to the right track and ensure a long-term and steady relationship.
The Chinese side is willing to maintain dialogues via diplomatic and military channels with the Indian side, and together seek solution to the border issues in a peaceful manner through dialogue and consultation, he said.
“It is hoped that the Indian side can properly handle issues related to China’s core interests, including Taiwan question and Tibet-related issues,” he said.
China and India should uphold the vision of peace, development, independence and inclusiveness, the envoy said.
“We should oppose geopolitical conflicts, bloc confrontation and exclusive ‘small circles’. We should jointly safeguard stability and prosperity in Asia,” he added.
China and India are both major developing countries, and China-India relations are not only important for the two countries but also have a significant impact on the region and the world at large, Sun said.
China and India are both major developing countries, and China-India relations are not only important for the two countries but also have a significant impact on the region and the world at large, said Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong
The recent disengagement that completed on Sept 12 in western Himalaya initiated the process to restore bilateral relations, Indian experts said.
“Our relations are moving in a positive direction. This development is tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement ‘this is not an era of war’, said Atul Bhardwaj, adjunct fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies or ICS, New Delhi.
The global economy is facing tough times, it is imperative that cooperation and cordiality guide the relations between two Asian giants, Bhardwaj added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and PM Modi came face to face for the first time at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit or SCO, since 2020. “This is not an era of war, let’s talk peace,” PM Modi said on sidelines of the SCO summit.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Jaishankar also came face to face and group photos were taken at a BRICS gathering in New York last week.
Sun said the two sides should promote mutual understanding and trust, promote win-win cooperation, properly handle differences and sensitive issues. The countries are to strengthen coordination and collaboration on the future development of China-India relations.