Beijing: After voicing concern over China’s investments in PoK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked it to “reconsider” its approach on some of the issues and take a strategic and long term view to push the relationship which has been “complex” in recent decades.
Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his counterpart Li Keqiang, sought tangible progress on issues relating to visa, an apparent reference to stapled visas issued by China to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, as he underlined that the two countries need to be “sensitive to each other’s interests”.
He stressed the need for strengthening mutual trust and confidence while seeking solutions to outstanding issues.
The two sides signed a record 24 agreements covering railways, mining, outer space, earthquake science and engineering, tourism, sister-cities and establishment of consulates in Chengdu and Chennai. “Our conversations were candid, constructive and friendly. We covered all issues, including those that trouble smooth development of our relations,” Modi said at a joint press interaction here along with Li after the talks held at the Great Hall of People.
“I stressed the need for China to reconsider its approach on some of the issues that hold us back from realising full potential of our partnership. I suggested that China should take a strategic and long term view of our relations,” Modi said.
The statement comes a day after Modi raised concern with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their talks in Xi’an over China’s USD 46 billion proposed investment in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “I found the Chinese leadership responsive,” he said, adding that the re-emergence of India and China and their relationship will have a profound impact on the two countries and the course of this century.
Noting that India-China relationship has been “complex in recent decades”, Modi said the two countries have a “historic responsibility to turn this relationship into a source of strength for each other and a force of good for the world.”
On the boundary question, Modi said the two sides agreed to continue to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution. “We both reiterated our strong commitment to make all efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border region,” he said.
India, China sign 24 key agreements
India and China today signed a record 24 agreements in key sectors, including in railways and education, on day two of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the communist neighbour.
Protocol for setting up Consulates-General at Chengdu and Chennai besides an MoU on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations were among the 24 agreements signed in the presence of Modi and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang here.
An action plan between the Indian Railways and China National Railways on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector was also signed.
“Today, we have signed over 20 agreements, covering diverse areas of cooperation. This shows the depth and maturity of our relationship and the positive direction of our partnership,” Modi said in his address.
“Our decision to open consulates in Chengdu and Chennai reflects growing mutual confidence and shared commitment to expand relations,” he added.An MoU on education exchange programme and ‘Space Cooperation Outline’ were also signed.
Other key agreements are on developing China India think tanks, maritime cooperation and ocean sciences. Four agreements were signed on sister-state and sister city relations between Karnataka and Sichuan province; Chennai and Chongqing; Hyderabad and Qingdao; and Aurangabad and Dunhuang. An agreement on setting up a Mahatma Gandhi skill centre in Ahmedabad was also signed besides a broadcast tie-up for Doordarshan and China’s state-run CCTV.
Agreements on education exchange programme, on mining and minerals, skill development, tourism and vocational education also figured on the list. Two MoUs between Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Yunnan Minzu University and another with Fudan University were signed on the establishment of a Yoga college and centre for Gandhian and Indian studies, respectively.
(PTI)