Chinese President Xi Jinping Outlines A Four-Point Approach To Reset Ties With India

Picture : ANI/DD

Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined a four-point approach for the ‘steady and long-term development’ of China-India relations, stressing strategic understanding, win-win cooperation, mutual respect and inclusive multilateral engagement during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders exchanged ‘candid and in-depth views’ and reached an important consensus on China and India becoming partners.

Xi said China has consistently viewed and developed its relations with India from a strategic and long-term perspective.

He noted that he and PM Modi have met twice over the past two years, guiding bilateral relations from a ‘restart’ to a ‘further enhancement’.

“China-India relations have developed, with both sides keeping in mind the long-term development of bilateral relations from a strategic perspective,” Xi said.

First, he called for both sides to ‘calibrate our direction with an objective and rational strategic understanding’, asserting that China and India are partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats, for each other’s development.

He said the strategic assessment was based on the development stages of the two countries and the international environment and was aligned with the common interests of both nations and their people.

Second, Xi called for mutual success through win-win cooperation, saying development should remain the ‘greatest common denominator’ between the two countries.

He advocated strengthening friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, including expanding people-to-people exchanges and direct flights to improve the public opinion foundation for bilateral ties.

The Chinese President also called for both sides to address each other’s economic and trade concerns in a balanced manner and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

Third, Xi called for eliminating interference through political wisdom, mutual respect and understanding.

He said China and India should remain committed to the parallel development and mutual promotion of bilateral relations and border issues while maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Fourth, he called for benefiting the world through open and inclusive multilateral cooperation.

Xi said China and India should support each other’s presidency of BRICS and strengthen cooperation through multilateral platforms including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20.