Tianjin/New Delhi: India is committed to taking forward its ties with China on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin on Sunday.
In his brief remarks to the Chinese President and his delegation during the bilateral, the PM referred to their meeting last October in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit that helped to break the ice in the ties and led to the understanding on disengagement of their troops.
“Last year in Kazan we had a very comprehensive meeting. Our relations got a positive direction. Following the understanding on disengagement on the boundary, peace and tranquility prevails on the border,” the PM said.
He said their Special Representatives on the boundary question have reached an understanding on border management, referring to the meeting earlier this month between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.
“The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has begun once again.
“Both sides are also resuming direct flights.
“With cooperation between our two sides, our combined 2.8 billion people can together lead to a path for global good.
“We are committed to taking forward our ties based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.
“I extend my congratulations to China on the successful holding of the SCO summit,” the PM said in his remarks.
The bilateral with the Chinese President is the first official engagement of PM Modi in Tianjin. He arrived in the Chinese city yesterday, in his first visit to China since 2018.
The two sides have made conscious efforts to mend ties, which had soured considerably since the bloody clash on the border between their troops in Galwan in the summer of 2020. Their meeting in Kazan last year, which was organised by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has helped mend ties, and since then both sides have consciously worked to iron out the ruffles, while stressing on peace and tranquility on the border.
The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi on August 18-19 and his meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led to a number of positive outcomes, with both sides agreeing to move forward on resolving the boundary question, and also resuming direct flights and border trade.
