China willing to handle disputes with India: Premier Li

After China reacted positively toward setting up a military hotline with India on border security, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that Beijing is willing to properly handle its disputes with New Delhi as cooperation between the two countries will be a “great engine” for Asia’s development. At a meeting with India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chinese Premier expressed hope that defence departments and armed forces of both the countries will bolster exchanges, dialogue and communication to jointly maintain peace and stability in border areas and create a good condition for the development of bilateral ties.

Speaking over the development of India-China relations in recent years, Mr Parrikar said that he hoped the two sides could make joint efforts to properly handle relevant issues and maintain the cooperation momentum in all areas. “A further progress of bilateral defence relations would also push forward the two countries’ economic and trade cooperation,” he added. Mr Parrikar is on his maiden visit to China after assuming office. He is the first defence minister to visit China in three years.

Mr Parrikar’s meeting with Mr Li took place a day after he firmly conveyed India’s reservations to Chinese leaders over Beijing blocking its efforts to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN. China and India have repeated stand-offs along the disputed boundary following differences in perceptions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Facing the sluggish world economy and unceasing regional conflicts, the cooperation and common development between the two countries will be a “great engine” for Asia’s development and send a “positive signal” for world peace, Mr Li was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

On the eve of the arrival in Beijing of India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: “China and India are two largest developing countries and major emerging economies as well as two significant forces that drive forward world multi-polarisation.” However, China maintained its stand on blocking India’s bid to get Mr Azhar banned by the UN, saying it was in accordance with “facts and relevant resolutions”.

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