Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it is “imperative” for India and China to respect each other’s “core interests” and take concrete steps to implement the “important consensus” reached by their leaders.
Wang made the remarks during talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Monday on the sidelines of the BRICS NSA conference, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. Both leaders, who serve as Special Representatives on the India-China boundary issue, reviewed bilateral ties and the progress of the normalisation process.
Describing India as an important neighbour, Wang said bilateral relations had returned to the path of recovery and improvement. He noted that the leaders of the two countries had agreed that China and India are partners rather than rivals, creating the most important strategic consensus between the two sides and providing momentum for the stable development of bilateral relations.
As the world’s two most populous countries, China and India should view their relationship from a long-term and global perspective, Wang said. He stressed that both sides should implement the important consensus reached by their leaders, deepen cooperation to support development and revitalisation, and accelerate the modernisation of the Global South.
“It is imperative to respect each other’s core interests, properly handle sensitive issues, and place the China-India border issue in an appropriate position, so that it doesn’t affect the overall situation of bilateral relations,” Wang said.
He also called for restoring dialogue mechanisms and expanding exchanges in areas including trade, finance, law enforcement and media. According to Xinhua, Wang said both countries should guide public opinion towards a correct understanding of bilateral ties and strengthen the social foundation for improved relations.
Responding to a question on the Doval-Wang meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “Both sides are actively implementing the common understandings reached in the 24th Round of Talks Between the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question, and are working hard in preparation for the 25th round of talks.”
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the discussions as “constructive and forward-looking”.
“NSA Doval underlined that stable, predictable and constructive bilateral relations contribute to building of trust and better understanding between the two sides,” he said.
